BX  9185  .J65  1900 

Johnson,  Herrick,  1832-1913 

Forms  for  special  occasions 


FORMSA 

f       JAN  12  1915 

Special  Occasions; 


MARRIAGE,  BURIAL,  BAPTISM,  THE  LORD'S  SUPPER, 
ORDINATION,  DEDICATION,  ETC.: 

WITH 

SCRIPTURE  SELECTIONS 

[REVISED   VERSION] 
FOR 

'HE  CHAMBER  OF  SICKNESS, 

THE  HOUSE   OF  MOURNING, 

THE  SERVICE  AT  FUNERALS. 


v/BY 

HKRRICK  JOHNSON,  D.D. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRESBYTERIAN   BOARD   OF  PUBLICATION 

AND   SABBATH-SCHOOL   WORK, 

1900. 


COPYRIGHT,    1889. 

BY  C.  H.  WHITING. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


The  Author  and  Compiler  of  this  Book  of  Forms  is  in 
fullest  sympathy  with  the  conviction  that  the  genius  of 
Presbyterian  ism  is  for  doctrine  and  instruction,  that  it 
has  affinity  for  a  simple  mode  of  worship,  and  that  lit- 
urgical repetitions,  however  packed  with  Scripture  and 
however  redolent  of  devotion,  can  never  take  large  place 
in  the  service  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  while  she  re- 
mains true  to  her  historic  precedents  and  instincts. 

Yet,  while  recognizing  the  fact  that  elaborate  cere- 
mony, prescribed  chant  and  liturgy,  and  fixed  grooves 
for  devotion,  are  uncongenial  to  the  great  body  of  those 
holding  the  Presb}i:erian  faith  and  polity,  it  still  re- 
mains true  that  there  are  occasional  and  special  services 
where  an  appointed  order,  even  to  the  suggestion  of 
specific  verbal  form,  may  be  helpful  to  the  minister,  and 
in  the  interests  of  an  edifying  conduct  of  such  services. 
An  authoritative,  mandatory  submission  of  even  these 
limited  formulas  would  meet  with  no  favor  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  But  it  is  believed  by  the  writer  that 
there  is  large  room  and  wide  use  for  a  further  contribu- 
tion to  our  limited  treasury  of  forms  for  special  services, 
provided  respect  be  shown  to  the  liberty  of  the  individ- 

iii 


iv  INTROD  UCTOR  V. 

ual,  and  loyal  regard  be  paid  to  our  standards  of  faith 
and  worship. 

It  has  been  the  Author's  aim  to  make  this  little 
Manual  especially  rich  in  its  selections  of  Scripture,  and 
to  give  such  prayers  as  are  herein  recorded  the  flavor  of 
the  Divine  Word. 

For  a  bridal  service  two  original  forms  are  given,  the 
one  much  briefer  than  the  other,  having  their  conceived 
adaptation  to  the  differing  circumstances  in  which  mar- 
riage may  be  administered.  A  third  form  of  bridal  ser- 
vice is  given,  taken  from  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  It  is  inserted  as  a 
matter  of  convenience  to  meet  a  possible  preference. 

It  is  hoped  the  grouping  of  passages  of  Scripture 
for  the  sick  room  will  be  found  to  meet  a  need  for  which 
it  is  not  known  that  any  special  provision  has  hitherto 
been  made. 

It  is  believed,  also,  that  the  distinction  made  between 
the  baptized  children  of  the  church  and  others,  in  their 
reception  for  the  first  time  to  the  Lord's  table  is  of  grave 
importance,  serving  to  emphasize  the  covenant  relation 
into  which  God  has  been  pleased  to  enter  with  his  people, 
and  to  mark  a  distinct  feature  of  our  church  order  and 
life. 

Herrick  Johnson. 

Chicago,  January  igih,  1889. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Form  for  Marriage; i 

Scripture  Selections  for  the  Chamber  of  Sick- 
ness        ii 

Green   Pastures Page  n 

Still  Waters "  12 

Delectable  Mountains "  14 

The  Entrance  Gate "  16 

At  Eventide "  18 

Scripture  Selections  for  the  House  of  Mourn- 
ing           20 

Everlasting  Foundations Page  20 

Exceeding  Great  Promises "  25 

Safe  Hiding  Places "  27 

Precious  Consolations "  2S 

Form  for  Burial  of  the  Dead 32 

Service  at  the  Church Page     32 

Service  at  the  House ,:        34 

Service  at  the  Grave ':        34 

Scripture  Selections  for  Funeral  Service.  .   .     36 

For  a  Child Page  36 

For  the  Aged "  43 

God's  Comfort "  45 

Sovereignty "  48 

Mortality "  51 

Chastening "  55 

Godly  Sorrow "  58 

Trust "  60 

Resurrection    .   .      "  63 

Heaven  ...  "  68 

Form  for  Infant  Baptism 74 

V 


vi  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Form  for  Reception  to  the  Lord's  Supper     .  .  78 

Of  Persons  Baptized  in  Infancy Page     78 

Of  Persons  to  be  Baptized  on  Profession  of 

Faith "        79 

Of  Persons  from  Other  Churches    ...     "        82 

Summary  of  Presbyterian  Doctrine 84 

Notes  Concerning  the  Lord's  Supper 87 

Form  for  Administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper  89 

Form  for  Organization  of  a  Church 96 

Form  for  Ordination  of  Elders 100 

Form  for  Re-installation  of  Elders 105 

Form  for  Ordination  of  Deacons 108 

Form  for  Laying  of  a  Corner-Stone 112 

Form  for  Dedication  of  a  Church 116 

Poetical  Selections 125 


MARRIAGE. 


FORM    I. 


The  persons  to  be  married  standing  together,  the  man  on 
the  right  hand  and  the  woman  on  the  left,  the  minister 
shall  say  : 

Marriage  was  ordained  of  God  in  Eden,  and  con- 
firmed at  the  wedding  in  Cana  of  Galilee  by  the 
gracious  presence  and  miraculous  blessing  of  Christ. 
It  is  to  unite  two  hearts  and  lives,  blending  all 
their  interests,  and  sympathies,  and  hopes.  It  in- 
volves mutual  compromise,  loving  sufferance  and 
holy  trust. 

I  charge  and  entreat  you,  therefore,  in  entering 
upon  and  sustaining  this  hallowed  union,  to  seek 
the  favor  and  blessing  of  Him  whose  favor  is  life : 
whose  blessing  maketh  rich  and  addeth  no  sorrow. 

Let  us  pray. 

Lord  Jesus,  we  beseech  thee,  come  by  thy  grace 
to  this  marriage.  And  give  to  these  that  marry  a 
due  sense  of  the  obligations  they  are  now  to  assume. 
With  true  intent  and  in  utter  unreserve  of  love 
may  they  plight  their  troth,  and  henceforth  be  helps 
meet  for  each  other,  till  death  do  them  part.    Amen. 

The  man  and  the  woman  here  joining  their  right  hands, 
the  minister  shall  say  : 

,p,\\ Do  you,  M ,  take  this  woman  whose  hand  you 

now  hold,  before  God  and  these  witnesses,  to  be 
your  wife  ? 
I  do. 


2  MARRIAGE. 

Do  you  promise  to  love,  honor,  sustain  and  cher- 
ish her,  in  joy  and  sorrow,  in  health  and  sickness, 
in  prosperity  and  adversity,  and  to  be  faithful  unto 
her  as  becometh  a  good  husband,  so  long  as  you 
both  shall  live  ? 

ido. 

Do  you,  N ,  take  this  man  whose  hand  you 

ow  hold,  before  God  and  these  witnesses,  to  be 
your  husband  ? 

I  do. 

Do  you  promise  to  love,  honor,  cherish  and  obey 
him,  in  joy  and  sorrow,  in  health  and  sickness,  in 
prosperity  and  adversity,  and  to  be  faithful  unto 
him  as  becometh  a  good  wife,  so  long  as  you  both 
shall  live  ? 

I  do.  

[A  second  form  of  consenting  together  and  pledging  troth 
in  holy  wedlock  is  here  inserted,  to  be  used  in  place  of  the 
above  if  the  parties  prefer.     - 
The  man  and  the  woman  having  joined  their  right  hands, 

the  man  shall  say  after  the  minister  : 

I,  M ,  take  thee,  N ,  to  my  wedded  wife,  to  have 

and  to  hold,  from  this  day  forward,  for  better  for  worse,  for 
richer  for  poorer,  in  sickness  and  in  health,  to  love  and  to 
cherish,  till  death  us  do  part,  according  to  God's  holy  ordi- 
nance ;  and  thereto  I  plight  thee  my  troth. 
Then  the  woman  shall  say  after  the  minister : 

I,   N ,  take  thee,  M ,  to  my  wedded  husband,  to 

have  and  to  hold,  from  this  day  forward,  for  better  for  worse, 
for  richer  for  poorer,  in  sickness  and  in  health,  to  love,  cher- 
ish, and  to  obey,  till  death  us  do  part,  according  to  God's 
holy  ordinance  ;  and  thereto  I  give  thee  my  troth.] 


MARRIAGE.  3 

If  a  ring  is  used  the  minister  shall  here  say  to  the  man  : 
What  token  do  you  give  in  pledge  that  you  will 
faithfully  perform  these  vows  ? 

Here  the  man,  without  speaking,  shall  present  the  ring, 
still  holding  it  in  his  hand,  and  the  minister  shall  say 
to  the  woman  ; 

Do  you  receive  this  ring  in  pledge  of  the  same  on 
your  part  ? 

Here  the  woman,  without  speaking,  shall  take  the  ring,  hi 
acceptance  of  the  pledge  on  her  part,  pass  it  to  the  minis- 
ter, and  he  to  the  man,  thus  making  the  unbroken  circle; 
and  the  man  shall  place  it  upon  the  third  finger  of  the 
woman's  left  hand  ;  when  the  minister  shall  say  : 

May  this  ring  henceforth  be  the  chaste  and 
changeless  symbol  of  your  evermore  pure  and 
changeless  affection. 

Here  the  minister  shall  say:     -,JKMJt£^  KiJjL 

Forasmuch,  then,  as  you,  M ,  and  you,  N-^^^?- 

have  consented  together  in  holy  wedlock,  and  have 
plighted  each  to  the  other  your  sacred  troth,  in  the 
name  of  God  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy 
Ghost,  I  pronounce  you  husband  and  wife.  Amen. 
What,  therefore,  God  hath  joined  together,  let 
not  man  put  asunder. 

Henceforth,  you  go  dowm  life's  way  together. 
Let  love  be  the  charmed  word  in  the  dialect  of  your 
home  and  hearts.  And  may  Heaven's  constant 
benediction  crown  your  union  with  ever-increasing 
joy  and  blessedness,  and  unite  your  hearts  and  lives 
by  all  the  grace  and  true  affection  of  a  happy  mar- 
riage. 


4 


MARRIAGE. 


Let  us  pray. 

O  thou,  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
the  God  of  all  comfort,  grant  now  to  set  thy  blessed 
seal  upon  these  nuptials.  We  thank  thee  for  the  tie 
of  holy  wedlock,  and  for  all  the  sweet  amenities  and 
sanctities  of  love  and  home  that  have  been  born  of 
it.  MajT  this  new  marriage  bond  have  thine  abun- 
dant favor,  making  the  union  of  these  two  hearts 
more  and  more  blessed  as  the  years  go  by.  Let  the 
wife  be  as  a  fruitful  vine  \>y  the  side  of  the  house, 
and  the  husband  dwell  with  the  wife  as  a  man  of 
knowledge,  the  husband  loving  the  wife,  and  the 
wife  reverencing  the  husband,  according  to  Thy 
Holy  Scripture.  May  the  fellowship  of  their  wedded 
life  be  the  dearer  and  purer  for  fellowship  with 
Thee,  and  their  love  be  glorified  in  Thy  love. 

Grant,  most  gracious  Lord,  that  they  may  trust 
each  other  and  Thee  when  the  clouds  come ;  that 
they  may  be  patient  and  gentle  amidst  fretting  and 
worrying  cares  ;  that  they  may  make  their  pathway 
radiant  with  the  bright  shining  of  good  deeds  done 
in  Thy  name  and  for  Thy  sake  :  and  living  beauti- 
ful lives,  may  they  die  the  death  of  the  righteous. 

Let  Thy  benediction,  we  beseech  Thee,  rest  also 
upon  the  homes  here  represented,  and  upon  the 
hearts  that  lean  to  this  nuptial  hour  with  tender 
interest  for  the  love  they  have  for  these  that  are 
married. 

And  permit  us  all  at  last  to  share  in  the  heavenly 
fellowship  of  the  Marriage  Supper  of  the  Lamb  and 
the  Bride  of  the  Lamb.     Amen. 


MARRIAGE.  5 

Here  the  minister  shaft  say  : 

The  Lord  bless  you  and  keep  you  :  the  Lord 
make  His  face  to  shine  upon  you  and  be  gracious 
unto  you  :  the  Lord  lift  up  His  countenance  upon 
you  and  give  you  peace.     Amen. 


FORM    11. 

As  the  parties  present  themselves  to  be  married  the  minister 
shall  say  : 

Marriage  is  a  divine  institution,  and  honorable  to 
all  who  maintain  therein  a  true  fidelity.  I  charge 
you  both  to  seek  the  help  of  God  in  all  its  duties, 
and  to  keep  with  sacred  constancy  the  vows  of  wed- 
lock you  are  now  to  assume. 

Let  us  pray. 

0  most  holy  and  merciful  Lord  God,  we  beseech 
thee  for  this  man  and  this  woman,  that  they  may 
enter  into  the  covenant  of  marriage  with  true  hearts, 
and  ever  cherish  each  for  the  other  a  tender  and  an 
unalterable  affection.  We  ask  it  for  Jesus'  sake. 
Amen. 

The  man  and  the  woman  here  joining  their  right  hands, 
the  minister  shall  say  to  the  man  : 

Do  you,  M ,  take  this  woman  whose  hand  you 

now  hold,  before  God  and  these  witnesses,  to  be  your 
wife? 

1  do. 

Do  you  promise  to  love,  honor,  sustain  and  cher- 
ish her,  in  joy  and  sorrow,  in  health  and  sickness, 
in  prosperity  and  adversity,  and  to  be  faithful  unto 


6  MARRIAGE. 

her  as  becometh  a  good  husband,  so  long  as  you 
both  shall  live  ? 
I  do. 

Addressing  now  the  woman,  the  minister  shall  say : 

Do  you,  N ,  take  this  man  whose  hand  you 

now  hold,  before  God  and  these  witnesses,  to  be 
your  husband  ? 

I  do. 

Do  you  promise  to  love,  honor,  cherish  and  obey 
him,  in  joy  and  sorrow,  in  health  and  sickness,  in 
prosperity  and  adversity,  and  to  be  faithful  unto 
him  as  becometh  a  good  wife,  so  long  as  you  both 
shall  live  ? 

I  do. 

In  the  name  of  God,  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the 
Holy  Ghost,  I  pronounce  you  husband  and  wife. 
Amen. 

What,  therefore,  God  hath  joined  together,  let  not 
man  put  asunder. 

Let  us  pray. 

O  God,  our  heavenly  Father,  we  pray  for  thy 
gracious  blessing  upon  this  marriage.  We  thank 
thee  that  thou  hast  ordained  this  union  of  two 
hearts  in  the  sacred  bonds  of  wedlock.  Set  thy  seal 
upon  the  nuptials  that  have  here  been  celebrated  in 
thy  name.  Help  these  that  have  now  been  made 
husband  and  wife  to  keep,  with  loving  and  unbroken 
fidelity,  the  vows  with  which  they  have  consented 
together  in  holy  matrimony.  May  they  be  true  to 
each  other  and  to  thee,  and  at  last  enter  thy  blessed 
kingdom  :  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 


MARK  I  ACE. 


FORM   III. 

ACCORDING   TO   THE   BOOK    OF   COMMON    PRAYER   AS   USED  BY  THE 
PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  persons  to  be  married  standing  together,  the  tnan  on 
the  right  hand  and  the  woman  on  the  te/t,  the  Minister 
shall  say  : 

Dearly  beloved,  we  are  gathered  together  here  in 
the  sight  of  God,  and  in  the  face  of  this  company, 
to  join  together  this  man  and  this  woman  in  holy 
matrimony  ;  which  is  commended  of  St.  Paul  to  be 
honorable  among  all  men ;  and  therefore  is  not  by 
any  to  be  entered  into  unadvisedly  or  lightly  ;  but 
reverently,  discreetly,  advisedly,  soberly,  and  in  the 
fear  of  God.  Into  this  holy  estate  these  two  per- 
sons present  come  now  to  be  joined.  If  any  man 
can  show  any  just  cause  why  they  may  not  lawfully 
be  joined  together,  let  him  now  speak  or  else  here- 
after forever  hold  his  peace. 

Then  shall  the  Minister  say  unto  the  persons  who  are  to  be 
■married  : 

I  require  and  charge  you  both  as  ye  will  answer 
at  the  dreadful  day  of  judgment  when  the  secrets  of 
all  hearts  shall  be  disclosed,  that  if  either  of  you 
know  any  impediment  why  ye  may  not  be  lawfully 
joined  together  in  matrimony,  ye  do  now  confess  it : 
for  be  ye  well  assured,  that  if  any  persons  are  joined 
together  otherwise  than  as  God's  word  doth  allow, 
their  marriage  is  not  lawful. 


8  MARRIAGE. 

The  Minister,  if  he  shall  have  reason  to  doubt  of  the  law- 
fulness of  the  proposed  marriage,  may  demand  sufficient 
surety  for  his  indemnification  ;  but  if  no  impediment 
shall  be  alleged,  or  suspected,  the  Minister  shall  say  to  the 
man  : 

M.  Wilt  thou  have  this  woman  to  thy  wedded 
wife,  to  live  together  after  God's  ordinance  in  the 
holy  estate  of  matrimony?  Wilt  thou  love  her, 
comfort  her,  honor,  and  keep  her,  in  sickness  and 
in  health  ;  and,  forsaking  all  others,  keep  thee  only 
unto  her,  so  long  as  ye  both  shall  live  ? 

The  man  shall  answer : 
I  will. 

Then  shall  the  Minister  say  unto  the  woman  : 

N.  Wilt  thou  have  this  man  to  thy  wedded  hus- 
band, to  live  together  after  God's  ordinance,  in  the 
holy  estate  of  matrimony?  Wilt  thou  obey  him, 
and  serve  him,  love,  honor,  and  keep  him,  in  sick- 
ness and  in  health  ;  and,  forsaking  all  others,  keep 
thee  only  unto  him,  so  long  as  ye  both  shall  live  ? 

The  woman  shall  answer : 

I  will. 
Then  shall  the  Minister  say  : 

Who  giveth  this  woman  to  be  married  to  this 
man? 

Then  shall  they  give  their  troth  to  each  other  in  this  man- 
ner:  The  Minister,  receiving  the  woman  at  her  father's 
or  friend's  hands,  shall  cause  the  man,  with  his  right 
hand,  to  take  the  woman  by  her  right  hand,  and  to  say 
after  him  as  followeth  : 

I  M.  take  thee  N.  to  my  wedded  wife,  to  have 


MARRIAGE.  g 

and  to  hold,  from  this  day  forward,  for  better  for 
worse,  for  richer  for  poorer,  in  sickness  and  in  health, 
to  love  and  to  cherish,  till  death  us  do  part,  accord- 
ing to  God's  holy  ordinance  ;  and  thereto  I  plight 
thee  my  troth. 

Then  shall  they  loose  their  hands,  and  the  woman,  with  her 
right  hand  taking  the  man  by  his  right  hand,  should  like- 
wise say  after  the  Minister  : 

I  N.  take  thee  M.  to  my  wedded  husband,  to  have 
and  to  hold,  from  this  day  forward,  for  better  for 
worse,  for  richer  for  poorer,  in  sickness  and  in  health, 
to  love,  cherish,  and  to  obey,  till  death  us  do  part, 
according  to  God's  holy  ordinance;  and  thereto  I 
give  thee  my  troth. 

Then  shall  they  again  loose  their  hands,  and  the  man  shall 
give  unto  the  zuoman  a  ring,  and  the  Minister,  taking  the 
ring,  shall  deliver  it  unto  the  man  to  put  it  upon  the  fourth 
finger  of  the  woman' s  left  hand;  and  the  man,  holding 
the  ring  there,  and  taught  by  the  Minister,  shall  say  : 

With  this  ring  I  thee  wed,  and  with  all  my  worldly 
goods  I  thee  endow,  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and 
of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     Amen. 

Then  the  Minister  shall  say  : 

Let  as  pray. 

Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  Thy 
name  ;  Thy  kingdom  come  ;  Th}^  will  be  done  in 
earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.  Give  us  this  day  our  daily 
bread  ;  and  forgive  us  our  trespasses,  as  we  forgive 
those  who  trespass  against  us.  And  lead  us  not 
into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil.     Amen. 

O  Eternal  God,  Creator  and  Preserver  of  all  man- 


IO  MARRIAGE. 

kind,  Giver  of  all  spiritual  grace,  the  Author  of 
everlasting  life  ;  send  Thy  blessing  upon  these  Thy 
servants,  this  man  and  this  woman  whom  we  bless 
in  Thy  name,  that  as  Isaac  and  Rebecca  lived  faith- 
fully together,  so  these  persons  may  surely  perform 
and  keep  the  vow  and  covenant  between  them  made, 
(whereof  this  Ring  given  and  received  is  a  token 
and  pledge),  and  may  ever  remain  in  perfect  love 
and  peace  together,  and  live  according  to  Thy  laws, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 

Then  shall  the  Minister  join  their  right  hands  together  and 
say  : 

Those  whom  God  hath  joined  together  let  no  man 
put  asunder. 

Then  shall  the  Minister  speak  unto  the  company  : 

Forasmuch  as  these  persons  have  consented  to- 
gether in  holy  wedlock,  and  have  witnessed  the  same 
before  God  and  this  company,  and  thereto  have  given 
and  pledged  their  troth  each  to  the  other,  and  have 
declared  the  same  by  giving  and  receiving  a  ring, 
and  by  joining  hands  ;  I  pronounce  that  they  are 
Man  and  Wife,  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of 
the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     Amkn. 

And  the  Minister  shall  add  this  blessing  : 

God  the  Father,  God  the  Son,  God  the  Holy 
Ghost,  bless,  preserve,  and  keep  you;  the  Lord 
mercifully  with  His  favor  look  upon  you,  and  so  fill 
you  with  all  spiritual  benediction  and  grace,  that  ye 
may  so  live  together  in  this  life,  that  in  the  world  to 
come  ye  may  have  life  everlasting.     Amen. 


(  '//.  \MBER  < >/■■  SICKNESS.  1 1 


SELECTIONS    OF    SCRIPTURE    FOR    THE 
CHAMBER  OF  SICKNESS. 


I.    GREEN   PASTURES. 

The  Lord's  Word. 

I  am  the  good  shepherd. — John  x.  ii. 

The  good  shepherd  " knoweth  his  sheep." — John 
x.  14. 

He  "  calleth  them  all  by  name." — John  x.  3. 

He  "  goeth  before  them." — John  x.  4. 

He  "  give th  his  life  for  them." — John  x.  ii. 

He  "  giveth  them  eternal  life." — John  x.  28. 

They  shall  become  one  flock,  one  shepherd. — John 
x.  16. 

And  they  shall  never  perish. — John  x.  28. 

The  Soul's  Response. 

The  Lord  is  my  shepherd  ;  I  shall  not  want. 

He  maketh  me  to  lie  down  in»green  pastures  : 

He  leadeth  me  beside  the  still  waters. 

He  restoreth  my  soul : 

He  guideth  me  in  the  paths  of  righteousness  for  his 

name's  sake. 
Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow 

of  death, 
I  will  fear  no  evil ;  for  thou  art  with  me  : 
Thy  rod  and  thy  staff,  they  comfort  me. 


12  CHAMBER  OF  SICKNESS. 

Thou  preparest  a  table  before  me  in  the  presence  of 
mine  enemies  : 

Thou  hast  anointed  my  head  with  oil ;  my  cup  run- 
neth over. 

Surely  goodness  and  mercy  shall  follow  me  all  the 
days  of  my  life  : 

And  I  will  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  L,ord  for  ever. 
— Psalm  xxiii. 


II.    STILL  WATERS. 


Be  still,  and  know  that  I  am  God. — Ps.  xlvi.  10. 

Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace,  whose  mind 
is  stayed  on  thee. — Is  A.  xxvi.  3. 
Thou  makest  all  his  bed  in  his  sickness. — Ps.  xli.  3. 
For  so  he  giveth  unto  his  beloved  sleep. — Ps.  cxxvii.  2. 
He  maketh  the  storm  a  calm, 
So  that  the  waves  thereof  are  still. 
Then  are  they  glad  because  they  be  quiet ; 
So  he  bringeth  them  unto  the   haven  where  they 
would  be. — Ps.  cvii.  29-30. 

There  the  weary  be  at  rest. — Job  iii.  17. 

And  he  shall  wipe  away  every  tear  from  their 
eyes ;  and  death  shall  be  no  more  ;  neither  shall  there 
be  mourning,  nor  crying,  nor  pain,  any  more. — 
Rev.  xxi.  4. 

And  the  inhabitant  shall  not  say,  I  am  sick. — Isa. 
xxxiii.  24. 
Therefore  will  we  not  fear,   though  the   earth  do 

change, 
And  though  the  mountains  be  moved  in  the  heart  of 
the  seas  ; 


CHAM BER  OF  SICKNESS. 


13 


Though  the  waters  thereof  roar  and  be  troubled  : 
Though   the   mountains   shake   with   the   swelling 

thereof. — Ps.  xlvi.  2-3. 
What  time  I  am  afraid, 
I  will  put  my  trust  in  thee. — Ps.  lvi.  3. 

I  will  trust,  and  will  not  be  afraid. — Isa.  xii.  2. 
In  peace  will  I  both  lay  me  down  and  sleep  : 
For  thou,  Lord,  alone  makest  me  dwell  in  safety. — 

Ps.  iv.  8. 

I  will  lift  up  mine  eyes  unto  the  mountains : 
From  whence  shall  my  help  come  ? 
My  help  cometh  from  the  Lord, 
Which  made  heaven  and  earth. 
He  will  not  suffer  thy  foot  to  be  moved : 
He  that  keepeth  thee  will  not  slumber. 
Behold,  he  that  keepeth  Israel 
Shall  neither  slumber  nor  sleep. 
The  Lord  is  thy  keeper  : 
The  Lord  is  thy  shade  upon  thy  right  hand. 
The  sun  shall  not  smite  thee  by  day, 
Nor  the  moon  by  night. 
The  Lord  shall  keep  thee  from  all  evil ; 
He  shall  keep  thy  soul. 

The  Lord  shall  keep  thy  going  out  and  thy  com- 
ing in, 
From  this  time  forth  and  for  evermore. — Ps.  cxxi. 

The  Lord  is  my  light  and  my  salvation  ;  whom  shall 

I  fear  ? 
The  Lord  is  the  strength  of  my  life ;  of  whom  shall 

I  be  afraid  ? 
When  evil-doers  came  upon  me  to  eat  up  my  flesh, 


14  CHAMBER  OF  SICKNESS. 

Even  mine  adversaries  and  my  foes,  they  stumbled 

and  fell. 
Though  an  host  should  encamp  against  me, 
My  heart  shall  not  fear : 
Though  war  should  rise  against  me, 
Even  then  will  I  be  confident. 
One  thing  have  I  asked  of  the  Lord,  that  will  I 

seek  after  ; 
That  I  may  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  all  the 

days  of  my  life, 
To  behold  the  beauty  of  the  Lord,  and  to  inquire  in 

his  temple. 
For  in  the  day  of  trouble  he  shall  keep  me  secretly 

in  his  pavilion  : 
In  the  covert  of  his  tabernacle  shall  he  hide  me  ; 
He  shall  lift  me  up  upon  a  rock. 
And  now  shall  mine  head  be  lifted  up  above  mine 

enemies  round  about  me  ; 
And  I  will  offer  in  his  tabernacle  sacrifices  of  joy  ; 
I  will  sing,  yea,  I  will  sing  praises  unto  the  Lord. — 

Ps.  xxvii.  1-6. 


III.    DELECTABLE    MOUNTAINS. 

"  So  they  went  up  to  the  delectable  mountains,  to  behold 
the  gardens  and  orchards,  the  vineyards  and  fountains  of 
water  :  where  also  they  drank  and  washed  themselves,  and 
did  freely  eat  of  the  vineyards.  Now  there  were  on  the  tops 
of  these  mountains  shepherds  feeding  their  flocks.  .  .  . 
These  mountains  are  Immanuel's  land,  and  they  are  within 
sight  of  the  city." — Butty  an' s  Pilgrim's  Progress. 

Until  the  day  be  cool,  and  the  shadows  flee  away, 


CHAMBER  OF  SICKNESS. 


15 


I  will  get  me  to  the  mountain  of  myrrh.     Cant.  iv.  6. 

1  am  my  beloved's,  and  my  beloved  is  mine: 

He  feedeth  Jiisjlock  among  the  lilies. — Cant.  vi.  3. 

He  giveth  power  to  the  faint ;  and  to  him   that 
hath  no  might  he  inereaseth  strength. — ISA.  xl.  29. 
He  healeth  the  broken  in  heart,  and  bindeth  up  their 
wounds. — Ps.  exlvii.  3. 

And  I  have  put  my  words  in  thy  month,  and  have 
covered  thee  in  the  shadow  of  mine  hand,  that  I  may 
plant  the  heavens,  and  lay  the  foundations  of  the 
earth,  and  say  unto  Zion,  Thou  art  my  people. — 
ISA.  li.  16. 

As  one  whom  his  mother  comforteth,  so  will  I 
comfort  you. — Isa.  lxvi.  13. 

Sing,  O  heavens  ;  and  be  joyful,  O  earth  ;  and 
break  forth  into  singing,  O  mountains  :  for  the  Lord 
hath  comforted  his  people,  and  will  have  compassion 
upon  his  afflicted. — Isa.  xlix.  13. 

He  shall  feed  his  flock  like  a  shepherd,  he  shall 
gather  the  lambs  in  his  arm,  and  carry  them  in  his 
bosom,  and  shall  gently  lead  those  that  give  suck. 
— Isa.  xl.  11. 

And  he  carried  me  away  in  the  Spirit  to  a  moun- 
tain great  and  high,  and  shewed  me  the  holy  city 
Jerusalem,  coming  down  out  of  heaven  from  God, 
having  the  gloiy  of  God. — Rev.  xxi.  10. 

And  he  shewed  me  a  river  of  water  of  life,  bright 
as  crystal,  proceeding  out  of  the  throne  of  God  and 
of  the  Lamb,  in  the  midst  of  the  street  thereof.  And 
on  this  side  of  the  river  and  on  that  was  the  tree  of 
life,  bearing  twelve  manner  of  fruits,  yielding  its 
fruit  every  month  :  and  the  leaves  of  the  tree  were 


1 6  CHAMBER  OF  SICKNESS. 

for  the  healing  of  the  nations.  And  there  shall  be 
no  curse  any  more  :  and  the  throne  of  God  and  of  the 
Lamb  shall  be  therein  :  and  his  servants  shall  do  him 
service  ;  and  they  shall  see  his  face  ;  and  his  name 
shall  be  on  their  foreheads.  And  there  shall  be 
night  no  more  ;  and  they  need  no  light  of  lamp, 
neither  light  of  sun  ;  for  the  Lord  God  shall  give 
them  light :  and  they  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever. 
— REV.xxii.  1-5. 


IV.    THE  ENTRANCE   GATE. 

These  selections  are  chiefly  for  those  not  yet  in  the  fold. 
They  are  the  inviting  and  assuring  words  of  Scripture  to  one 
who  would  "see  Jesus."  May  their  use  change  many  a 
sick-room  into  a  "Bethel,"  and  put  "a  new  song  "  in  the 
mouth. 

Knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you. — Matt. 
vii.  7. 

Behold,  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the 
sin  of  the  world  ! — John  i.  29. 

I  am  the  door :  by  me  if  any  man  enter  in,  he 
shall  be  saved,  and  shall  go  in  and  go  out,  and  shall 
find  pasture. — John  x.  9. 

For  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only 
begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  belie veth  on  him 
should  not  perish,  but  have  eternal  life. — John  iii.  16. 

And  in  none  other  is  there  salvation  :  for  neither  is 
there  any  other  name  under  heaven,  that  is  given 
among  men,  wherein  we  must  be  saved. — Acts  iv.  12. 

Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  thou  shalt  be 
saved. — Acts  xvi.  31. 


CHAMBER  OF  SICKNESS.  1 7 

Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy 
laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest. — Matt.  xi.  28. 

If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me,  and 
drink. — John  vii.  37. 

Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the 
waters,  and  he  that  hath  no  money  ;  come  ye,  buy, 
and  eat ;  yea,  come,  buy  wine  and  milk  without 
money  and  without  price. — Isa.  lv.  1. 

My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and  I  know  them,  and 
they  follow  me :  and  I  give  unto  them  eternal  life  ; 
and  they  shall  never  perish,  and  no  one  shall  snatch 
them  out  of  my  hand. — John  x.  27. 

A  bruised  reed  shall  he  not  break,  and  smoking 
flax  shall  he  not  quench. — Matt.  xii.  20. 

Come  now,  and  let  us  reason  together,  saith  the 
Lord  :  though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be 
as  white  as  snow  ;  though  they  be  red  like  crimson, 
they  shall  be  as  wool. — Is  A.  i.  18. 

Him  that  cometh  to  me  I  wTill  in  no  wise  cast  out. 
— John  vi.  37. 

He  that  will,  let  him  take  the  water  of  life  freely. 
■ — Rev.  xxii.  17. 

Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  the  unright- 
eous man  his  thoughts :  and  let  him  return  unto  the 
Lord,  and  he  will  have  mercy  upon  him  ;  and  to 
our  God,  for  he  will  abundantly  pardon. — Isa.  lv.  7. 

And  he  spake  unto  them  this  parable,  saying, 
What  man  of  you,  having  a  hundred  sheep,  and 
having  lost  one  of  them,  doth  not  leave  the  ninety 
and  nine  in  the  wilderness,  and  go  after  that  which 
is  lost,  until  he  find  it  ?  And  when  he  hath  found 
it,  he  layeth  it  on  his  shoulders,  rejoicing.  And 
2 


1 8  CHAMBER  OF  SICKNESS. 

when  he  cometh  home,  he  calleth  together  his  friends 
and  his  neighbours,  saying  unto  them,  Rejoice  with 
me,  for  I  have  found  my  sheep  which  was  lost.  I 
say  unto  you,  that  even  so  there  shall  be  joy  in 
heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth,  more  than 
over  ninety  and  nine  righteous  persons,  which  need 
no  repentance. — Luke  xv.  3-7. 

But  when  he  (the  prodigal  son)  came  to  himself  he 
said,  How  man}-  hired  servants  of  my  father's  have 
bread  enough  and  to  spare,  and  I  perish  here  with 
hunger  !  I  will  arise  and  go  to  my  father,  and  will 
say  unto  him,  Father,  I  have  sinned  against  heaven, 
and  in  thy  sight :  I  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called 
thy  son  :  make  me  as  one  of  thy  hired  servants.  And 
he  arose,  and  came  to  his  father.  But  while  he  was 
yet  afar  off,  his  father  saw  him,  and  was  moved 
with  compassion,  and  ran,  and  fell  on  his  neck,  and 
kissed  him. — Luke  xv.  17-20. 


V.    AT   EVENTIDE. 


These  selections  are  for  that  last  hour  when  the  shadows 
are  almost  at  their  full  lengthening,  ere  "the  silver  cord  be 
loosed  or  the  golden  bowl  be  broken. ' '  Much  speech  of  man 
seems  idle.  It  is  a  time  for  "Jesus  only."  Some  brief  word 
of  Scripture,  whether  a  cry  of  need  or  a  cry  of  trust,  spoken 
by  the  minister  and  repeated  by  the  dying,  may  change  "the 
valley  of  weeping "  into  "a  place  of  springs,"  and  "the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  "  into  "  a  garden  of  spices." 

Lord,  save  me.— Matt.  xiv.  30. 

Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit. — Acts  vii.  59. 

God,  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner. — Luke  xviii.  13. 


CHAMBER  OF  SICKNESS.  19 

The  blood  of  Jesus  his  Son  cleanseth  us  from  all 

sin.— 1  John  i.  7. 

Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners  ; 
of  whom  I  am  chief. — 1  Tim.  i.  15. 

Behold,  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the 
sin  of  the  world  ! — John  i.  29. 

(Lord)  I  believe :  help  thou  mine  unbelief. — 
Mark  ix.  24. 

Lead  me  to  the  rock  that  is  higher  than  I. — Ps.  lxi.  2. 
Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  God,  according  to  thy  lov- 

ingkindness  : 
According  to  the  multitude  of  thy  tender  mercies  blot 

out  my  transgressions. — Ps.  li.  1. 
Though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of 

death, 
I  will  fear  no  evil ;  for  thou  art  writh  me  : 
Thy  rod  and  thy  staff,  they  comfort  me. — Ps.  xxiii.  4. 

Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  wait  for  him. — Job 
xiii.  15. 

For  so  he  giveth  unto  his  beloved  sleep. — Ps-  exxvii.  2. 
My  flesh  and  my  heart  faileth  : 

But  God  is  the  strength  of  my  heart  and  my  portion 
for  ever. — Ps.  lxxiii.  26. 

Into  thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit. — Luke  xxiii. 
46. 

Now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart,  O  Lord,  ac- 
cording to  thy  word,  in  peace  ;  for  mine  eyes  have 
seen  thy  salvation. — Luke  ii.  29. 


20  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING. 


SELECTIONS    OF    SCRIPTURE    FOR    THE 
HOUSE    OF    MOURNING. 


I.    EVERLASTING   FOUNDATIONS. 

Howbeit  the  firm  foundation  of  God  standeth, 
having  this  seal,  The  Lord  knoweth  them  that  are 
his. — 2  Tim.  ii.  19. 

Trust  3^e  in  the  Lord  for  ever  :  for  in  the  Lord 
Jehovah  is  an  everlasting  rock  (a  rock  of  ages). — 
Isa.  xxvi.  4. 

The  Lord  is  my  rock,  and  my  fortress,  and  my  de- 
liverer, even  mine ; 
The  God  of  my  rock,  in  him  will  I  trust ; 
My  shield,  and  the  horn  of  my  salvation,  my  high 

tower,  and  my  refuge. — 2  Sam.  xxii.  2-3. 
For  who  is  God,  save  the  Lord  ? 
And  who  is  a  rock,  save  our  God? 
God  is  my  strong  fortress  : 
And  he  guideth  the  perfect  in  his  way. 
He  maketh  his  feet  like  hinds'  feet : 
And  setteth  me  upon  my  high  places. — 2  Sam.  xxii. 

32-34- 
Thou  hast  also  given  me  the  shield  of  thy  salvation  : 
And  thy  gentleness  hath  made  me  great. — 2  Sam. 

xxii.  36. 
But  Israel  shall  be  saved  by  the  Lord  with  an 
everlasting  salvation  :  ye  shall  not  be  ashamed  nor 
confounded  world  without  end.— Isa.  xlv.  17. 


HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  2 1 

In  overflowing  wrath  I  hid  my  face  from  thee  for 
a  moment;  but  with  everlasting  kindness  will  I 
have  mercy  on  thee,  saith  the  Lord  thy  redeemer. 
—ISA.  liv.  8. 

The  eternal  God  is  thy  dwelling  place, 
And  underneath  are  the  everlasting  arms. — Dkit 

xxxiii.  27. 
Jesus  Christ  is  the  same  yesterday  and  to-day.  yea 
and  for  ever. — Heb.  xiii.  8. 
He  shall  have  dominion  also  from  sea  to  sea, 
And  from  the  River  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
They  that  dwell  in  the  wilderness  shall  bow  before 

him  ; 
And  his  enemies  shall  lick  the  dust. — Ps.  lxxii.  8-9. 
His  name  shall  endure  for  ever. — Ps.  lxxii.  17. 

Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  Behold,  I  lay 
in  Zion  for  a  foundation  a  stone,  a  tried  stone,  a 
precious  corner  stone  of  sure  foundation  :  he  that  be- 
lieveth  shall  not  make  haste. — Isa.  xxviii.  16. 

For  other  foundation  can  no  man  lay  than  that 
which  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus  Christ. — 1  Cor.  iii.  11. 

He  that  dwelleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High 

Shall  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty. 

I  will  say  of  the  Lord,  He  is  my  refuge  and  my 

fortress ; 
My  God,  in  whom  I  trust. 

For  he  shall  deliver  thee  from  the  snare  of  the  fowler, 
And  from  the  noisome  pestilence. 
He  shall  cover  thee  with  his  pinions, 
And  under  his  wings  shalt  thou  take  refuge  : 
His  truth  is  a  shield  and  a  buckler. 


22  HO  USE  OF  MO  URNING. 

Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  for  the  terror  by  night, 

Nor  for  the  arrow  that  flieth  by  day  ; 

For  the  pestilence  that  walketh  in  darkness, 

Xor  for  the  destruction  that  wasteth  at  noonday. 

A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy  side, 

And  ten  thousand  at  thy  right  hand ; 

But  it  shall  not  come  nigh  thee. 

Only  with  thine  eyes  shalt  thou  behold, 

And  see  the  reward  of  the  wicked. 

For  thou,  O  Lord,  art  my  refuge  ! 

Thou  hast  made  the  Most  High  thy  habitation  ; 

There  shall  no  evil  befall  thee, 

Neither  shall  any  plague  come  nigh  thy  tent. 

For  he  shall  give  his  angels  charge  over  thee, 

To  keep  thee  in  all  thy  ways. 

They  shall  bear  thee  up  in  their  hands, 

Lest  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a  stone. 

Thou  shalt  tread  upon  the  lion  and  adder  : 

The  young  lion  and  the  serpent  shalt  thou  trample 

under  feet. 
Because  he  hath  set  his  love  upon  me,  therefore  will 

I  deliver  him  : 
I  will  set  him  on  high,  because  he  hath  known  my 

name. 
He  shall  call  upon  me,  and  I  will  answer  him  ; 
I  will  be  with  him  in  trouble  : 
I  will  deliver  him,  and  honour  him. 
With  long  life  will  I  satisfy  him, 
And  shew  him  my  salvation. — Ps.  xci. 

God  is  our  refuge  and  strength, 
A  very  present  help  in  trouble. 


HOUSE  OF  MOURNING. 


23 


Therefore  will  we  not  fear,  though  the  earth   do 

change, 
And  though  the  mountains  be  moved  in  the  heart  of 

the  seas  ; 
Though  the  waters  thereof  roar  and  be  troubled, 
Though   the    mountains   shake  with   the   swelling 

thereof. 
There  is  a  river,  the  streams  whereof  make  glad  the 

city  of  God, 
The  holy  place  of  the  tabernacles  of  the  Most  High. 
God  is  in  the  midst  of  her  ;  she  shall  not  be  moved  : 
God  shall  help  her  and  that  right  early. 
The  nations  raged,  the  kingdoms  were  moved  : 
He  uttered  his  voice,  the  earth  melted. 
The  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us  ; 
The  God  of  Jacob  is  our  refuge. 
Come,  behold  the  works  of  the  Lord, 
What  desolations  he  hath  made  in  the  earth. 
He  maketh  wars  to  cease  unto  the  end  of  the  earth  : 
He  breaketh   the  bow,    and   cutteth   the   spear  in 

sunder  ; 
He  burnetii  the  chariots  in  the  fire. 
Be  still,  and  know  that  I  am  God  : 
I  will  be  exalted  among  the  nations,  I  will  be  exalted 

in  the  earth. 
The  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us  : 
The  God  of  Jacob  is  our  refuge. — Ps.  xlvi. 

And  we  know  that  to  them  that  love  God  all 
things  work  together  for  good,  even  to  them  that 
are  called  according  to  his  purpose.  For  whom  he 
foreknew,  he  also  foreordained  to  be  conformed  to 


24  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING. 

the  image  of  his  Son,  that  he  might  be  the  firstborn 
among  many  brethren  :  and  whom  he  foreordained, 
them  he  also  called  :  and  whom  he  called,  them  he 
also  justified  :  and  whom  he  justified,  them  he  also 
glorified. 

What  then  shall  we  say  to  these  things  ?  If  God 
is  for  us,  who  is  against  us  ?  He  that  spared  not  his 
own  Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall 
he  not  also  with  him  freely  give  us  all  things  ?  Who 
shall  lay  anything  to  the  charge  of  God's  elect  ?  It 
is  God  that  justifieth  ;  who  is  he  that  shall  condemn  ? 
It  is  Christ  Jesus  that  died,  }rea  rather,  that  was 
raised  from  the  dead,  who  is  at  the  right  hand  of 
God,  who  also  maketh  intercession  for  us.  Who 
shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of  Christ  ?  shall  tribu- 
lation, or  anguish,  or  persecution,  or  famine,  or 
nakedness,  or  peril,  or  sword  ?  Even  as  it  is  written, 

For  thy  sake  we  are  killed  all  the  day  long  ; 
We  are  accounted  as  sheep  for  the  slaughter. 

Nay,  in  all  these  things  we  are  more  than  conquer- 
ors through  him  that  loved  us.  For  I  am  persuaded 
that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principali- 
ties, nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor 
powers,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  crea- 
ture, shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of 
God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. — Rom.  viii. 
28-39. 


HOUSE  OF  MOURNING. 


25 


II.    EXCEEDING   GREAT   PROMISES. 

Know  therefore  that  the  Lord  thy  God,  he  is 
God  ;  the  faithful  God,  which  keepeth  covenant  and 
mercy  with  them  that  love  him  and  keep  his  com- 
mandments to  a  thousand  generations. — Deut.  vii.  9. 
Blessed  is  the  man  that  endureth  temptation  :  for 
when  he  hath  been  approved,  he  shall  receive  the 
crown  of  life,  which  the  Lord  promised  to  them  that 
love  him. — James  i.  12. 
Oh  how  great  is  thy  goodness,  which  thou  hast  laid 

up  for  them  that  fear  thee, 
Which  thou  hast  wrought  for  them  that  put  their 

trust  in  thee,  before  the  sons  of  men  ! 
In  the  covert  of  thy  presence  shalt  thou  hide  them 

from  the  plottings  of  man  : 
Thou  shalt  keep  them  secretly  in  a  pavilion  from  the 

strife  of  tongues. — Ps.   xxxi.  19-20. 
Behold,  the  eye  of  the  Lord  is  upon  them  that  fear 

him, 
Upon  them  that  hope  in  his  mercy  ; 
To  deliver  their  soul  from  death,  and  to  keep  them 

alive  in  famine. — Ps.  xxxiii.  18-19. 
The  angel  of  the  Lord  encampeth  round  about  them 

that  fear  him, 
And  delivereth  them. — Ps.  xxxiv.  7. 
Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children, 
So  the  Lord  pitieth  them  that  fear  him. — Ps.  ciii.  13. 
And  their  soul  shall  be  as  a  watered  garden. — 
JER.  xxxi.  12. 


26  HO  USE  OF  MO  I  'RNIXG. 

The}-  that  sow  in  tears  shall  reap  in  joy. 

Though  he  goeth  on  his  way  weeping,  bearing  forth 

the  seed  ; 
He  shall  come  again  with  joy,  bringing  his  sheaves 

with  him. — Ps.  cxxvi.  5-6. 
Call  upon  me  in  the  day  of  trouble  ; 
I  will  deliver  thee,  and  thou  shalt  glorify  me. — Ps. 

1.  15- 
Deep  ealleth  unto  deep  at  the  noise  of  thy  water- 
spouts : 
All  thy  waves  and  thy  billows  are  gone  over  me. 
Yet  the  Lord  will  command  his  lovingkindness  in 

the  day-time, 
And  in  the  night  his  song  shall  be  with  me, 
Even  a  prayer  unto  the  God  of  my  life. — Ps.  xlii.  7-8. 

Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy 
laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.  Take  my  yoke  upon 
you,  and  learn  of  me  ;  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly  in 
heart :  and  ye  shall  find  rest  unto  your  souls.  For 
my  yoke  is  easy  and  my  burden  is  light. — Matt. 
xi.  28-30. 

When  thou  passest  through  the  waters,  I  will  be 
with  thee  ;  and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not 
overflow  thee  :  when  thou  walkest  through  the  fire, 
thou  shalt  not  be  burned  ;  neither  shall  the  flame 
kindle  upon  thee.  For  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel,  thy  saviour. — Isa.  xliii.  2-3.  , 

Certainly  I  will  be  with  thee. — Exodus  iii.  12. 

I  will  commune  with  thee  from  above  the  mercy- 
seat. — Exodus  xxv.  22. 

I  will  strengthen  thee  ;  yea,  I  will  help  thee. — 
Isa.  xli.  10. 


HOUSE  OF  MOI'KXING. 


27 


Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled. — John  xiv.  1. 

I  will  not  Leave  you  desolate:  I  come  unto  you. 
—John  xiv.  18. 

I  conic  again,  and  will  receive  you  unto  myself; 
that  where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also. — John  xiv.  3. 


III.    SAFK   HIDING   PLACES. 

The  name  of  the  Lord  is  a  strong  tower : 

The  righteous  runneth  into  it,  and  is  safe. — Prov. 

xviii.  10. 
God  is  our  refuge  and  strength, 
A  very  present  help  in  trouble. — Ps.  xlvi.  1. 
Be  merciful  unto  me,  O  God,  be  merciful  unto  me  ; 
For  my  soul  taketh  refuge  in  thee  : 
Yea,  in  the  shadow  of  thy  wings  will  I  take  refuge, 
Until  these  calamities  be  overpast. — Ps.  lvii.  1. 
It  is  better  to  trust  in  the  Lord 
Than  to  put  confidence  in  man. 
It  is  better  to  trust  in  the  Lord 
Than  to  put  confidence  in  princes. — Ps.  cxviii.  8-9. 
They  that  trust  in  the  Lord 
Are  as  mount  Zion,  which  cannot  be  moved,  but 

abideth  for  ever. — Ps.  exxv.  1. 
Be  thou  to  me  a  rock  of  habitation,  whereunto  I  may 

continually  resort.  — Ps.  lxxi.  3. 
Keep  me  as  the  apple  of  the  eye, 
Hide  me  under  the  shadow  of  thy  wings. — Ps.  xvii.  8. 
Thou  art  my  hiding  place  ;  thou  wilt  preserve  me 

from  trouble  ; 


28  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING. 

Thou  wilt  compass  me  about  with  songs  of  deliver- 
ance.— Ps.  xxxii.  7. 

In  the  Lord  put  I  my  trust : 

How  say  ye  to  my  soul, 

Flee  as  a  bird  to  }^our  mountain  ? — Ps.  xi.  1. 

The  Lord  is  my  light  and  my  salvation  ;  whom  shall 
I  fear? 

The  Lord  is  the  strength  of  my  life  ;  of  whom  shall 
I  be  afraid? — Ps.  xxvii.  1. 

For  in  the  day  of  trouble  he  shall  keep  me  secretly 
in  his  pavilion  : 

In  the  covert  of  his  tabernacle  shall  he  hide  me, — 
Ps.  xxvii.  5. 

For  the  Lord  God  is  a  sun  and  a  shield. — Ps. 
lxxxiv.  11. 


IV.    PRECIOUS    CONSOLATIONS. 

Blessed  is  the  man  whom  thou  chastenest,  O  Lord. 
—  Ps.  xciv.  12. 
Blessed  is  the  man  that  endureth  temptation  :  for 

when  he  hath  been  approved,  he  shall  receive  the 

crown  of  life,  which  the  Lord  promised  to  them  that 

love  him. — James  i.  12. 

In  the  world  ye  have  tribulation  :  but  be  of  good 

cheer  ;  I  have  overcome  the  world. — John  xvi.  33. 

Cast  thy  burden  upon  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  sus- 
tain thee  : 

He  shall  never  suffer  the  righteous  to  be  moved. — 
Ps.  lv.  22. 


HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  29 

And  not  only  so,  but  let  us  also  rejoice  in  our 
tribulations  :  knowing  that  tribulation  worketh  pa- 
tience ;  and  patience,  probation  ;  and  probation, 
hope  :  and  hope  putteth  not  to  shame  ;  because  the 
love  of  God  hath  been  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts 
through  the  Holy  Ghost  which  was  given  unto  us. — 
Rom.  v.  3-5. 

For  our  light  affliction,  which  is  for  the  moment, 
worketh  for  us  more  and  more  exceedingly  an  eter- 
nal weight  of  glory  ;  while  we  look  not  at  the  things 
which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  .seen  : 
for  the  things  which  are  seen  are  temporal ;  but  the 
things  which  are  not  seen  are  eternal. — 2  Cor.  iv. 
17-18. 

Beloved,  think  it  not  strange  concerning  the  fiery 
trial  among  you,  which  cometh  upon  you  to  prove 
you,  as  though  a  strange  thing  happened  unto  you  : 
but  insomuch  as  ye  are  partakers  of  Christ's  suffer- 
ings, rejoice  ;  that  at  the  revelation  of  his  glory  also 
ye  may  rejoice  with  exceeding  joy. — 1  Pkt.  iv.  12- 

13- 

When  thou  walkest  through  the  fire,  thou  shalt 
not  be  burned  ;  neither  shall  the  flame  kindle  upon 
thee. — Isa.  xliii.  2. 

Behold,  I  have  refined  thee,  but  not  as  silver  ;  I 
have  chosen  thee  in  the  furnace  of  affliction. — Isa. 
xlviii.  10. 

My  son ,  regard  not  lightly  the  chastening  of  the 

Lord, 
Nor  faint  when  thou  art  reproved  of  him  ; 
For  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth, 
And  scourge th  every  son  whom  he  receiveth. 


30 


HOUSE  OF  MOURNING. 


It  is  for  chastening  that  ye  endure  ;  God  dealeth 
with  you  as  with  sons  ;  for  what  son  is  there  whom 
his  father  ehasteneth  not?  But  if  ye  are  without 
chastening,  whereof  all  have  been  made  partakers, 
then  are  ye  bastards,  and  not  sons.  Furthermore, 
we  had  the  fathers  of  our  flesh  to  chasten  us,  and  we 
gave  them  reverence  :  shall  we  not  much  rather  be 
in  subjection  unto  the  Father  of  spirits,  and  live  ? 
For  they  verily  for  a  few  days  chastened  us  as  seemed 
good  to  them  ;  but  he  for  our  profit,  that  we  may  be 
partakers  of  his  holiness.  All  chastening  seemeth 
for  the  present  to  be  not  joyous,  but  grievous  :  yet 
afterward  it  3Tieldeth  peaceable  fruit  unto  them  that 
have  been  exercised  thereby,  even  the  fruit  of  right- 
eousness.— Heb.  xii.  5-1 1. 

The  Spirit  himself  beareth  witness  with  our  spirit, 
that  we  are  children  of  God  :  and  if  children,  then 
heirs ;  heirs  of  God,  and  joint-heirs  with  Christ ; 
if  so  be  that  we  suffer  with  him,  that  we  may  be 
also  glorified  with  him. 

For  I  reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this  present 
time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory 
which  shall  be  revealed  to  us- ward. — Rom.  viii. 
16-18. 

And  one  of  the  elders  answered,  saying  unto  me, 
These  which  are  arrayed  in  the  white  robes,  who 
are  they,  and  whence  came  they  ?  And  I  say  unto 
him,  My  lord,  thou  knowest.  And  he  said  to  me, 
These  are  they  which  come  out  of  the  great  tribula- 
tion, and  they  washed  their  robes,  and  made  them 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  Therefore  are  they 
before  the  throne  of  God  ;  and  they  serve  him  day 


HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  3 1 

and  night  in  his  temple  :  and  he  that  sitteth  on  the 
throne  shall  spread  his  tabernacle  oxer  them.  They 
shall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more  ; 
neither  shall  the  sun  strike  upon  them,  nor  any 
heat :  for  the  Lamb  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the 
throne  shall  be  their  shepherd,  and  shall  guide  them 
unto  fountains  of  waters  of  life  :  and  God  shall  wipe 
away  every  tear  from  their  eyes. — Risv.  vii.  13-17. 


32 


BURIAL, 


BURIAL. 

Form  for  Burial  of  the  Dead. 


I.    THE  SERVICE  AT  THE   CHURCH. 

As  the  body  is  borne  to  its  place  before  the  pulpit,  the  minis 
ter  shall  say  : 

I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life  :  he  that  be- 
lieveth  on  me,  though  he  die,  yet  shall  he  live  : 
and  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  on  me  shall 
never  die.— John  xi.  25,  26. 

Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of  our  L,ord  Jesus 
Christ,  the  Father  of  mercies  and  God  of  all  com- 
fort ;  who  comforteth  us  in  all  our  affliction,  that  we 
may  be  able  to  comfort  them  that  are  in  any  afflic- 
tion, through  the  comfort  wherewith  we  ourselves 
are  comforted. — 2  Cor.  1.  3,  4. 

When  the  assembly  is  seated  and  ready  for  service  the  min- 
ister shall  say  : 
Let  us  pray. 

Almighty  God,  the  framer  of  our  bodies  and  the 
Father  of  our  spirits,  we  enter  thy  courts  with 
bowed  and  burdened  hearts  this  day.  But  our  hope 
is  in  thee.  To  whom  shall  we  go,  but  to  thee. 
Thou  hast  the  words  of  eternal  life.  Vouchsafe  thy 
comforting  and  guiding  Spirit,  as  we  are  met  for  this 


BURIAL. 


33 


tender  and  solemn  service  in  the  presence  of  the 
dead.  Let  not  our  eyes  be  so  holden  with  ^rief  that 
we  cannot  read  the  truth  thou  wouldst  teach  us  by 
this  affliction.  And  may  we  be  sanctified  in  all  the 
discipline  of  thy  providence,  through  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen. 

Here,  if  desired,  a  hymn  may  be  sung. 

Then  shall  be  read  such  portions  of  Scripture  as  may  be 
most  appropriate  to  the  specific  circumstances. 

[  Varied  selections  for  this  purpose,  both  of  disconnected 
single  verses  and  of  connected  passages,  will  be  found  fol- 
lowing this  order  of  service.] 

I 

v     After  the  reading  of  the  Scripture  the  minister  shall  make 
bJ^an  address  suited  to  the  occasion,  provided  any  remarks  at 
all  are  judged  to  be  desirable. 

Then  shall  follow  the  prayer,  the  special  features  of  which 
must  be  largely  determined  by  the  distinctive  features  of  the 
providence  that  has  brought  the  people  to  the  house  of 
mourning.  Hence  no  form  of  prayer  is  here  given.  But 
manifestly,  in  the  presence  of  death,  the  prayer  should  em- 
brace acknoiuledgment  of  God's  sovereign  mercy,  confession 
of  sin,  submission  to  the  divine  will,  thanksgiving  for  the 
victory  over  death  wrought  by  the  gospel,  and  trustful  com- 
mitment of  bereaved  and  smitten  hearts  to  the  infinitely 
tender  and  gracious  care  of  the  Saviour. 

Then  another  hymn  shall  be  sung,  after  which  the  congre- 
gation shall  be  dismissed  with  the  apostolic  benediction. 

3  i 


I 


34  BURIAL. 

II.    ORDER   OF  SERVICE  AT   A   PRIVATE   HOUSE. 

Invocation. 

Reading  of  Scripture.     See  pp.  36-73. 
Singing  (if  previously   arranged  for).      See   pp. 
125-134. 
Remarks  (if  thought  desirable). 
Prayer. 
Benediction. 


III.    FORM   FOR   SERVICE   AT   THE   GRAVE. 

After  the  body  has  been  placed  in  the  grave  the  minister 
shall  say  {if  the  dead  be  one  that  has  "fallen  asleep  in 
Jesus  ")  / 

Here  we  pay  the  last  rites  of  the  living  to  the  de- 
parted :  earth  to  earth,  ashes  to  ashes,  dust  to  dust. 
In  committing  this  body  to  the  grave,  the  dust 
returns  to  the  earth  as  it  was.  The  spirit  has  gone 
to  God  who  gave  it.  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven 
saying,  ' '  Write  :  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in 
the  Lord  from  henceforth.  Yea,  saith  the  Spirit, 
that  they  may  rest  from  their  labors  ;  for  their  works 
follow  with  them."  For  them  that  sleep  in  Jesus 
shall  God  bring  with  him  :  and  over  such  the  second 
death  hath  no  power. 
Or  this  {if  the  dead  be  not  known  as  a  believer)  : 

Here  we  commit  the  bpdjr  to  its  kindred  dust — 
earth  to  earth,  ashes  to  ashes,  dust  to  dust.     The 


BURIAL.  35 

spirit  \vc  leave  with  God.  This  is  the  end  of  all  the 
living.  May  the  living  lay  it  to  heart.  As  there  is 
no  work,  nor  device,  nor  knowledge,  nor  wisdom  in 
the  grave  whither  we  go,  and  as  we  know  that  God 
will  bring  us  to  death— to  the  house  appointed  for 
all  living  ;  let  us  here  renewedly  consecrate  ourselves 
to  do  with  our  might  what  our  hands  find  to  do. 
And  may  our  trust  be  in  Him  who  said,  "lam  the 
resurrection  and  the  life.  He  that  believeth  on  me, 
though  he  die,  yet  shall  he  live.  And  whosoever 
liveth  and  believeth  in  me  shall  never  die." 

Let  us  pray. 

We  thank  thee,  O  Lord,  that  thou  art  the  resur- 
rection and  the  life.  And  that  thou  hast  been 
declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  with  power  by  the 
resurrection  of  the  dead.  We  rejoice  in  the  blessed 
hope  born  of  thy  resurrection  victory.  May  it  be 
our  stay  and  comfort,  as  we  stand  by  this  fresh-made 
grave  where  we  have  laid  our  beloved  dead.  Hence- 
forth living  godly  and  obedient  lives,  may  thy  grace 
enable  us  to  die  the  death  of  the  righteous.  And 
when  the  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  is  dis- 
solved, let  us  have  a  building  of  God,  a  house  not 
made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens.     Amen. 

The  Lord  bless  you  and  keep  you,  bereaved  and 
smitten  hearts.  The  Lord  make  his  face  shine  upon 
you  and  be  gracious  unto  you.  The  Lord  lift  up 
his  countenance  upon  you  and  give  you  peace. 

And  the  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the 
love  of  God,  and  the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
be  with  you  all.     Amen. 


36  BURIAL, 


SCRIPTURE  SELECTIONS  FOR  FUNERAL 
SERVICE. 

[God's  Word,  in  its  undisturbed  and  inspired  connections, 
will  always  be  of  unspeakable  comfort  and  profit.  But  to 
insist  that  continuous  passages  only  shall  have  use  in  the 
burial  of  the  dead,  would  be  to  miss  some  of  the  rarest 
words  of  consolation  and  hope  in  all  the  Scriptures.  In 
the  selections  that  follow  it  has  been  the  aim  to  realize  the 
advantages  of  both  methods,  care  having  been  taken  that 
the  isolated  gems  gathered  from  out  God's  precious  casket 
of  jewels  should  not  be  flung  indiscriminately  before  the 
reader,  but  given  an  appropriate  setting.'] 

I.    FOR   A   CHILD. 

My  beloved  is  gone  down  to  his  garden  ...  to 
gather  lilies.  — Sol.  Song  vi.  2. 

He  shall  feed  his  flock  like  a  shepherd,  he  shall 
gather  the  lambs  in  his  arm,  and  carry  them  in  his 
bosom. — ISA.  xl.  11. 

In  that  hour  came  the  disciples  unto  Jesus,  say- 
ing, Who  then  is  greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ? 
And  he  called  to  him  a  little  child,  and  set  him  in 
the  midst  of  them,  and  said,  Verily  I  say  unto  you, 
Except  ye  turn,  and  become  as  little  children,  ye 
shall  in  no  wise  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
Whosoever  therefore  shall  humble  himself  as  this 
little  child,  the  same  is  the  greatest  in  the  kingdom 
of  heaven.  And  whoso  shall  receive  one  such  little 
child  in  my  name  receiveth  me  :  but  whoso  shall 
cause  one  of  these  little  ones  which  believe  on  me  to 
stumble  it  is  profitable  for  him  that  a  great  millstone 


BURIAL. 


37 


should  be  hanged  about  his  neck,  and  that  he  should 
be  sunk  in  the  depth  of  the  sea. — Matt,  xviii.  1-6. 

See  that  ye  despise  not  one  of  these  little  ones ; 
for  I  say  unto  you,  that  in  heaven  their  angels  do 
always  behold  the  face  of  my  Father  which  is  in 
heaven.  How  think  ye  ?  if  any  man  have  a  hun- 
dred sheep,  and  one  of  them  be  gone  astray,  doth 
he  not  leave  the  ninety  and  nine,  and  go  unto  the 
mountains,  and  seek  that  which  goeth  astray  ?  And 
if  so  be  that  he  find  it,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  he 
rejoiceth  over  it  more  than  over  the  ninety  and  nine 
which  have  not  gone  astray.  Even  so  it  is  not  the 
will  of  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven,  that  one  of 
these  little  ones  should  perish. — Matt,  xviii.  10-14. 

And  they  brought  unto  him  also  their  babes,  that 
he  should  touch  them  :  but  when  the  disciples  saw 
it,  they  rebuked  them.  But  Jesus  called  them  unto 
him,  saying,  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto 
me,  and  forbid  them  not :  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom 
of  God. — Luke  xviii.  15-16. 

Thus  saith  the  Lord  :  A  voice  is  heard  in  Ramah, 
lamentation,  and  bitter  weeping,  Rachel  weeping  for 
her  children  ;  she  refuseth  to  be  comforted  for  her 
children,  because  they  are  not.  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  :  Refrain  thy  voice  from  weeping,  and  thine 
eyes  from  tears :  for  thy  work  shall  be  rewarded, 
saith  the  Lord  ;  and  they  shall  come  again  from  the 
land  of  the  enemy.  And  there  is  hope  for  thy  latter 
end,  saith  the  Lord  ;  and  thy  children  shall  come 
again  to  their  own  border. — Jer.  xxxi.  15-17. 

And  the  streets  of  the  city  shall  be  full  of  boys 
and  girls  playing  in  the  streets  thereof. — Zech.  viii.  5- 


38  BURIAL. 

Wait  on  the  Lord  : 

Be  strong,  and  let  thine  heart  take  courage  ; 

Yea,  wait  thou  on  the  Lord. — Ps.  xxvii.  14. 

The  Lord  is  good,  a  strong  hold  in  the  day  of 
trouble  ;  and  he  knoweth  them  that  put  their  trust 
in  him. — Nahum  i.  7. 
The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  them  that  are  of  a  broken 

heart, 
And  saveth  such  as  be  of  a  contrite  spirit.— Ps. 

xxxiv.  18. 
Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children, 
So  the  Lord  pitieth  them  that  fear  him. 
For  he  knoweth  our  frame  ; 
He  remembereth  that  we  are  dust. — Ps.  ciii.  13-14. 

O  Lord,  be  gracious  unto  us  ;  we  have  waited  for 
thee  :  be  thou  their  arm  every  morning,  our  salvation 
also  in  the  time  of  trouble. — Is  A.  xxxiii.  2. 

The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away  ; 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord. — Job  i.  21. 

FOR   A   CHILD. 

And  the  Lord  struck  the  child  that  Uriah's  wife 
bare  unto  David,  and  it  was  very  sick.  David  there- 
fore besought  God  for  the  child  ;  and  David  fasted, 
and  went  in,  and  lay  all  night  upon  the  earth.  And 
the  elders  of  his  house  arose,  a?id  stood  beside  him, 
to  raise  him  up  from  the  earth  :  but  he  would  not, 
neither  did  he  eat  bread  with  them.  And  it  came  to 
pass  on  the  seventh  day,  that  the  child  died.  And 
the  servants  of  David  feared  to  tell  him  that  the 
child  was  dead  :  for  they  said,  Behold,  while  the 
child  was  yet  alive,  we  spake  unto   him,  and  he 


BURIAL. 


39 


hearkened  not  unto  our  voice  :  how  will  he  then  vex 
himself,  if  we  tell  him  that  the  child  is  dead?  But 
when  David  saw  that  his  servants  whispered  to- 
gether, David  perceived  that  the  child  was  dead: 
and  David  said  unto  his  servants,  Is  the  child  dead  ? 
And  they  said,  He  is  dead.  Then  David  arose  from 
the  earth,  and  washed,  and  anointed  himself,  and 
changed  his  apparel ;  and  he  came  into  the  house  of 
the  Lord,  and  worshipped  :  then  he  came  to  his  own 
house  ;  and  when  he  required  they  set  bread  before 
him,  and  he  did  eat.  Then  said  his  servants  unto 
him,  What  thing  is  this  that  thou  hast  done?  thou 
didst  fast  and  weep  for  the  child,  while  it  was  alive  ; 
but  when  the  child  was  dead,  thou  didst  rise  and  eat 
bread.  And  he  said,  While  the  child  was  yet  alive,  I 
fasted  and  wept :  for  I  said,  Who  knoweth  whether 
the  Lord  will  not  be  gracious  to  me,  that  the  child 
may  live  ?  But  now  he  is  dead,  wherefore  should  I 
fast  ?  can  I  bring  it  back  again  ?  I  shall  go  to  him, 
but  he  shall  not  return  to  me. — 2  Sam.  xii.  15-23. 

Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me  ;  forbid 
them  not :  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God. 
Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Whosoever  shall  not  receive 
the  kingdom  of  God  as  a  little  child,  he  shall  in  no 
wise  enter  therein.  And  he  took  them  in  his  arms, 
and  blessed  them,  laying  his  hands  upon  them. — 
Mark  x.  14-16. 

He  shall  gather  the  lambs  in  his  arm,  and  carry 
them  in  his  bosom. — ISA.  xl.  n. 

They  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any 
more  ;  neither  shall  the  sun  strike  upon  them,  nor 
any  heat. — Rev.  vii.  16. 


4o 


BURIAL. 


And  he  shall  wipe  away  every  tear  from  their 
eyes  ;  and  death  shall  be  no  more  ;  neither  shall 
there  be  mourning,  nor  crying,  nor  pain,  any  more. 
— Rev.  xxi.  4. 

Wherefore  comfort  one  another  with  these  words. 
— 1  Thess.  iv.  18. 

My  son,  regard  not  lightly  the  chastening  of  the  Lord, 
Nor  faint  when  thou  art  reproved  of  him  ; 
For  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth, 
And  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  receiveth. — Heb. 
xii.  5-6. 

Furthermore,  we  had  the  fathers  of  our  flesh  to 
chasten  us,  and  we  gave  them  reverence  :  shall  we 
not  much  rather  be  in  subjection  unto  the  Father 
of  spirits,  and  live  ?  For  they  verily  for  a  few  days 
chastened  us  as  seemed  good  to  them  ;  but  he  for 
our  profit,  that  we  may  be  partakers  of  his  holiness. 
All  chastening  seemeth  for  the  present  to  be  not  joy- 
ous, but  grievous  :  yet  afterward  it  yieldeth  peace- 
able fruit  unto  them  that  have  been  exercised  there- 
by, even  the  fruit  oi  righteousness.  —  Heb.  xii.  9-1 1. 

Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  the  Father  of  mercies  and  God  of  all  comfort ; 
who  comforteth  us  in  all  our  affliction,  that  we  may 
be  able  to  comfort  them  that  are  in  any  affliction, 
through  the  comfort  wherewith  we  ourselves  are 
comforted  of  God.  -  2  Cor.  i.  3-4. 

FOR    A   CHILD. 

Boast  not  thyself  of  to-morrow  ; 
For  thou  knowest  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth. 
— Prov.  xxvii.  1. 


BURIAL.  41 

Remember  also,  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy 
youth,  or  ever  the  evil  days  come,  and  the  years 
draw  nigh,  when  thou  shalt  say,  I  have  no  pleasure 
in  them  ;  or  ever  the  sun,  and  the  light,  and  the 
moon,  and  the  stars,  be  darkened,  and  the  clouds 
return  after  the  rain  :  in  the  day  when  the  keepers 
of  the  house  shall  tremble,  and  the  strong  men  shall 
bow  themselves,  and  the  grinders  cease  because  they 
are  few,  and  those  that  look  out  of  the  windows  be 
darkened,  and  the  doors  shall  be  shut  in  the  street ; 
when  the  sound  of  the  grinding  is  low,  and  one  shall 
rise  up  at  the  voice  of  a  bird,  and  all  the  daughters 
of  music  shall  be  brought  low  ;  yea,  they  shall  be 
afraid  of  that  which  is  high,  and  terrors  shall  be  in 
the  way  ;  and  the  almond  tree  shall. blossom,  and  the 
grasshopper  shall  be  a  burden,  and  the  caper-berry 
shall  fail :  because  man  goeth  to  his  long  home,  and 
the  mourners  go  about  the  streets  :  or  ever  the  silver 
cord  be  loosed,  or  the  golden  bowl  be  broken,  or  the 
pitcher  be  broken  at  the  fountain,  or  the  wheel 
broken  at  the  cistern  ;  and  the  dust  return  to  the 
earth  as  it  was,  and  the  spirit  return  unto  God  who 
gave  it. — Ecc  xii.  1-7. 

Go  to  now,  ye  that  say,  To-day  or  to-morrow  we 
will  go  into  this  city,  and  spend  a  year  there,  and 
trade,  and  get  gain  :  whereas  ye  know  not  what  shall 
be  on  the  morrow.  What  is  your  life  ?  For  ye  are 
a  vapour,  that  appeareth  for  a  little  time,  and  then 
vanisheth  away. — James  iv.  13-14. 

As  for  man,  his  days  are  as  grass  ; 

As  a  flower  of  the  field,  so  he  flourished! . 


42  BURIAL. 

For  the  wind  passeth  over  it,  and  it  is  gone  ; 

And  the  place  thereof  shall  know  it  no  more. 

But  the  mercy  of  the  Lord  is  from  everlasting  to 

everlasting  upon  them  that  fear  him, 
And  his  righteousness  unto  children's  children  ; 
To  such  as  keep  his  covenant, 
And  to  those  that  remember  his  precepts  to  do  them. 

— Ps.  ciii.  15-18. 
The  Lord  is  full  of  compassion  and  gracious, 
Slow  to  anger,  and  plenteous  in  mercy. 
He  will  not  always  chide  ; 
Neither  will  he  keep  his  anger  for  ever. 
He  hath  not  dealt  with  us  after  our  sins, 
Nor  rewarded  us  after  our  iniquities. 
For  as  the  heaven  is  high  above  the  earth, 
So  great  is  his  mercy  toward  them  that  fear  him. 
As  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west, 
So  far  hath  he  removed  our  transgressions  from  us. 
Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children, 
So  the  Lord  pitieth  them  that  fear  him. 
For  he  knoweth  our  frame  ; 
He  remembereth  that  we  are  dust. — Ps.  ciii.  8-14. 

And  it  came  to  pass  soon  afterwards,  that  he  went 
to  a  city  called  Nain  ;  and  his  disciples  went  with 
him,  and  a  great  multitude.  Now  when  he  drew  near 
to  the  gate  of  the  city,  behold,  there  was  carried  out 
one  that  was  dead,  the  only  son  of  his  mother,  and 
she  was  a  widow  :  and  much  people  of  the  city  was 
with  her.  And  when  the  Lord  saw  her,  he  had 
compassion  on  her,  and  said  unto  her,  Weep  not. 
And  he  came  nigh  and  touched  the  bier :  and  the 


BURIAL. 


43 


bearers  stood  still.  And  he  said,  Young  man,  I  say 
unto  thee,  Arise.  And  he  that  was  dead  sat  up, 
and  began  to  speak.  And  he  gave  him  to  his 
mother. — L,uke  vii.  11-15- 

Jesus  Christ  is  the  same  yesterday  and  to-day,  yea 
and  for  ever. — Heb.  xiii.  8. 
He  is  our  peace. — Eph.  ii.  14. 
And  turneth  the  shadow  of  death  into  the  morning. 

— Amos  v.  8. 
He  will  be  our  guide  even  unto  death. — Ps.  xlviii.  14. 
For   so   he    giveth    unto    his   beloved   sleep. — Ps. 
exxvii.  2. 

II.    FOR   THE  AGED. 

And  Abraham  gave  up  the  ghost,  and  died  in  a 
good  old  age,  an  old  man,  and  full  of  years  ;  and  was 
gathered  to  his  people. — Gen.  xxv.  8-10. 

And  Isaac  gave  up  the  ghost,  and  died,  and  was 
gathered  unto  his  people,  old   and  full  of  days. — 
Gen.  xxxv.  29. 
So  Job  died,  being  old  and  full  of  days. — Job  xlii.  17. 

Thou  shalt  go  to  thy  fathers  in  peace  ;  thou  shalt 
be  buried  in  a  good  old  age. — Gen.  xv.  15. 
Thou  shalt  come  to  thy  grave  in  a  full  age, 
Iyike  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  in  its  season.  — 

Job  v.  26. 
The  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of  glory, 
It  shall  be  found  in   the  way   of  righteousness. — 
Prov.  xvi.  31. 

Even  to  old  age  I  am  he,  and  even  to  hoar  hairs 
will  I  carry  you  :  I  have  made,  and  I  will  bear ;  yea, 
I  will  carry,  and  will  deliver. — Is  A.  xlvi.  4. 


44 


BURIAL. 


Thine  eyes  shall  see  the  king  in  his  beauty  :  they 
shall  behold  a  far  stretching  land. — Isa.  xxxiii.  17. 

Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  :  There  shall  yet 
old  men  and  old  women  dwell  in  the  streets  of  Jeru- 
salem, every  man  with  his  staff  in  his  hand  for  very 
age. — Zech.  viii.  4. 

And  the  work  of  righteousness  shall  be  peace ; 
and  the  effect  of  righteousness  quietness  and  confi- 
dence for  ever. — Isa.  xxxii.  17. 

Lord,  thou  hast  been  our  dwelling  place 

In  all  generations. 

Before  the  mountains  were  brought  forth, 

Or  ever  thou  hadst  formed  the  earth  and  the  world, 

Even  from  everlasting  to  everlasting,  thou  art  God. 

Thou  turnest  man  to  destruction  ; 

And  sayest,  Return,  ye  children  of  men. 

For  a  thousand  years  in  thy  sight 

Are  but  as  yesterday  when  it  is  past, 

And  as  a  watch  in  the  night. 

Thou  earnest  them  away  as  with  a  flood ;  they  are 

as  a  sleep  : 
In  the  morning  they  are  like  grass  which  groweth  up. 
In  the  morning  it  flourisheth,  and  groweth  up  ; 
In  the  evening  it  is  cut  down,  and  withereth. 
For  we  are  consumed  in  thine  anger, 
And  in  thy  wrath  are  we  troubled. 
Thou  hast  set  our  iniquities  before  thee, 
Our  secret  sins  in  the  light  of  thy  countenance. 
For  all  our  dajTs  are  passed  away  in  thy  wrath  : 
We  bring  our  years  to  an  end  as  a  tale  that  is  told 
The  days  of  our  years  are  threescore  years  and  ten, 


BURIAL. 


45 


Or  even  by  reason  of  strength  fourscore  years  ; 

Yet  is  their  pride  but  labour  and  sorrow ; 

For  it  is  soon  gone,  and  we  fly  away. 

Who  knoweth  the  power  of  thine  anger, 

And  thy  wrath  according  to  the  fear  that  is  due  unto 

thee  ? 
So  teach  us  to  number  our  days, 
That  we  may  get  us  an  heart  of  wisdom. 
Return,  O  Lord  ;  how  long  ? 
And  let  it  repent  thee  concerning  thy  servants. 
O  satisfy  us  in  the  morning  with  thy  mercy  ; 
That  we  may  rejoice  and  be  glad  all  our  days. 
Make  us  glad  according  to  the  days  wherein  thou 

hast  afflicted  us, 
And  the  years  wherein  we  have  seen  evil. 
Let  thy  work  appear  unto  thy  servants, 
And  thy  glory  upon  their  children. 
And  let  the  beauty  of  the  Lord  our  God  be  upon  us  : 
And  establish  thou  the  work  of  our  hands  upon  us  ; 
Yea,  the  work  of  our  hands  establish  thou  it. — Ps. 

xc. 


III.    GOD'S  COMFORT. 


Blessed  are  they  that  mourn  :  for  they  shall  be 
comforted. — Matt.  v.  4. 

Comfort  ye,  comfort  ye  my  people,  saith  your 
God. — Isa.  xl.  1. 

The  spirit  of  the  Lord  God  is  upon  me  ;  because 
the  Lord  hath  anointed  me  to  preach  good  tidings 
unto  the  meek ;  he  hath  sent  me  to  bind  up  the 


46  BURIAL. 

brokenhearted,  to  proclaim  liberty  to  the  captives, 
and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to  them  that  are 
bound  ;  to  proclaim  the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord, 
and  the  day  of  vengeance  of  our  God  ;  to  comfort 
all  that  mourn  ;  to  appoint  unto  them  that  mourn  in 
Zion,  to  give  unto  them  a  garland  for  ashes,  the  oil 
of  joy  for  mourning,  the  garment  of  praise  for  the 
spirit  of  heaviness  ;  that  they  might  be  called  trees 
of  righteousness,  the  planting  of  the  Lord,  that  he 
might  be  glorified, — Isa.  lxi.  1-3. 

Thus  saith  the  Lord,  thy  redeemer,  the  Holy  One 
of  Israel :  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  which  teacheth 
thee  to  profit,  which  leadeth  thee  by  the  way  that 
thou  shouldest  go. — Isa.  xlviii.  17. 

And  I  will  cause  you  to  pass  under  the  rod,  and  I 
will  bring  you  into  the  bond  of  the  covenant. — 
Kzek.  xx.  37. 

And  thou  shalt  consider  in  thine  heart,  that,  as  a 
man  chasteneth  his  son,  so  the  Lord  thy  God  chas- 
teneth  thee. — Deut.  viii.  5. 

And  I  will  bring  the  third  part  through  the  fire, 
and  will  refine  them  as  silver  is  refined,  and  will  try 
them  as  gold  is  tried :  they  shall  call  on  my  name, 
and  I  will  hear  them  :  I  will  say,  It  is  my  people  ; 
and  they  shall  say,  The  Lord  is  my  God. — Zech. 
xiii.  9. 

Fear  not,  for  I  have  redeemed  thee  ;  I  have  called 
thee  by  thy  name,  thou  art  mine.  When  thou  pass- 
est  through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with  thee  ;  and 
through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee  : 
when  thou  walkest  through  the  fire,  thou  shalt  not 
be  burned  ;  neither  shall  the  flame  kindle  upon  thee. 


BURIAL. 


47 


For  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel, 
thy  saviour.— ISA.  xliii.  1-3. 

For  a  small  moment  have  I  forsaken  thee  ;  but 
with  great  mercies  will  I  gather  thee.  In  overflow- 
ing wrath  I  hid  my  face  from  thee  for  a  moment ;  but 
with  everlasting  kindness  will  I  have  mercy  on  thee, 
saith  the  Lord  thy  redeemer.  For  the  mountains 
shall  depart,  and  the  hills  be  removed  ;  but  my  kind- 
ness shall  not  depart  from  thee,  neither  shall  my 
covenant  of  peace  be  removed,  saith  the  Lord  that 
hath  mercy  on  thee. — Isa.  liv.  7-8,  10. 

Fear  thou  not,  for  I  am  with  thee ;  be  not  dis- 
mayed, for  I  am  thy  God  :  I  will  strengthen  thee ; 
yea,  I  will  help  thee  ;  yea,  I  will  uphold  thee  with 
the  right  hand  of  my  righteousness. — Is  A.  xli.  10. 

I  will  in  no  wise  fail  thee,  neither  will  I  in  any 
wise  forsake  thee. — Heb.  xiii.  5. 

As  many  as  I  love,  I  reprove  and  chasten. — Rev. 
iii.  19. 

And  ye  therefore  now  have  sorrow  :  but  I  will  see 
you  again,  and  your  heart  shall  rejoice,  and  your  joy 
no  one  taketh  away  from  you. — John  xvi.  22. 

My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee  :  for  my  power  is 
made  perfect  in  weakness. — 2  Cor.  xii.  9. 

I,  even  I,  am  he  that  comforteth  you. — Isa.  li.  12. 

These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you,  that  in  me 
ye  may  have  peace.  In  the  world  ye  have  tribula- 
tion :  but  be  of  good  cheer ;  I  have  overcome  the 
world. — John  xvi.  33. 

Peace  I  leave  with  you  ;  my  peace  I  give  unto 
you  :  not  as  the  world  giveth,  give  I  unto  you.  Let 
not  your  heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  fearful. 
~-John  xiv.  27. 


48  BURIAL. 

I  am  the  resurrection,  and  the  life  :  he  that  be- 
lieveth  on  me,  though  he  die,  yet  shall  he  live  :  and 
whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  on  me  shall  never 
die. — John  xi.  25-26. 

Behold,  happy  is  the  man  whom  God  correeteth  : 
Therefore  despise  not  thou  the  chastening  of  the 

Almighty. 
For  he  maketh  sore  and  bindeth  up  ; 
He  woundeth,  and  his  hands  make  whole. 
He  shall  deliver  thee  in  six  troubles  ; 
Yea,  in  seven  there  shall  no  evil  touch  thee. — Job 
v.  17-19. 

Who  shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of  Christ  ? 
shall  tribulation,  or  anguish,  or  persecution,  or 
famine,  or  nakedness,  or  peril,  or  sword?  Nay,  in 
all  these  things  we  are  more  than  conquerors  through 
him  that  loved  us. — Rom.  viii.  35,  37. 

Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  the  Father  of  mercies  and  God  of  all  com- 
fort ;  who  comforteth  us  in  all  our  affliction,  that  we 
may  be  able  to  comfort  them  that  are  in  any  afflic- 
tion, through  the  comfort  wherewith  we  ourselves 
are  comforted  of  God. — 2  Cor.  i.  3-4. 


IV.    SOVEREIGNTY. 


Be  still,  and  know  that  I  am  God.— Ps.  xlvi.  10. 

He  doeth  according  to  his  will  in  the  army  of 
heaven,  and  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  : 
and  none  can  stay  his  hand,  or  say  unto  him,  What 
doest  thou  ?— Dan.  iv.  35. 


BURIAL. 


49 


Who   hath    directed    the    spirit  of  the    Lord,  or 
being  his  counsellor  hath  taught  him  ?    With  whom 
took  he  counsel,  and  who  instructed  him,  and  taught 
him  the  path  of  judgment,  and  taught  him  knowl- 
edge, and  shewed  to  him  the  way  of  understanding  ? 
Behold,  the  nations  are  as  a  drop  of  a  bucket,  and 
are  counted  as  the  small  dust  of  the  balance  :  be- 
hold, he  taketh  up  the  isles  as  a  very  little  thing. 
To  whom  then  will  ye  liken  God  ?  or  what  likeness 
will   ye  compare  unto  him  ?     //  is   he  that   sitteth 
upon  the  circle  of  the  earth,  and   the   inhabitants 
thereof  are  as  grasshoppers  ;  that  stretcheth  out  the 
heavens  as  a  curtain,  and  spreadeth  them  out  as  a 
tent  to  dwell  in. — Is  A.  xl.  13-15,  18,  22. 
In  whose  hand  is  the  soul  of  every  living  thing, 
And  the  breath  of  all  mankind. — Job  xii.  10. 
The  bows  of  the  mighty  men  are  broken, 
And  they  that  stumbled  are  girded  with  strength. 
The  Lord  killeth,  and  maketh  alive  : 
He  bringeth  down  to  the  grave,  and  bringeth  up. 
The  Lord  maketh  poor,  and  maketh  rich  : 
He  bringeth  low,  he  also  lifteth  up. 
For  the  pillars  of  the  earth  are  the  Lord's, 
And  he  hath  set  the  world  upon  them. 
He  will  keep  the  feet  of  his  holy  ones. — 1  Sam.  ii.  4, 6-9. 
Before  the  mountains  were  brought  forth, 
Or  ever  thou  hadst  formed  the  earth  and  the  wrorld, 
Even  from  everlasting  to  everlasting,  thou  art  God. 
Thou  turnest  man  to  destruction  ; 
Andsayest,  Return,  ye  children  of  men. — Ps.  xc.  2-3. 
Thy  righteousness  is  like  the  mountains  of  God  ; 
Thy  judgments  are  a  great  deep. — Ps.  xxxvi.  6. 
4 


5° 


BURIAL. 


The  Lord  reigneth ;  let  the  earth  rejoice ; 
Let  the  multitude  of  isles  be  glad. 
Clouds  and  darkness  are  round  about  him  : 
Righteousness  and  judgment   are   the  foundation 
of  his  throne. — Ps.  xcvii.  1-2. 

O  the  depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wisdom 
and  the  knowledge  of  God !  how  unsearchable 
are  his  judgments,  and  his  ways  past  tracing 
out !  For  who  hath  known  the  mind  of  the 
Lord  ?  or  who  hath  been  his  counsellor  ?  or  who 
hath  first  given  to  him,  and  it  shall  be  recom- 
pensed unto  him  again  ?  For  of  him,  and  through 
him,  and  unto  him,  are  all  things.  To  him  be 
the  glory  for  ever.     Amen. — Rom.  xi.  33-36. 

Trust  ye  in  the  Lord  for  ever :  for  in  the 
Lord  Jehovah  is  an  everlasting  rock  (a  rock  of 
ages). — Isa.  xxvi.  4. 

The  Lord  redeemeth  the  soul  of  his  servants  : 
And    none  of  them    that    trust    in    him  shall   be 

condemned. — Ps.  xxxiv.  22. 
The  name  of  the  Lord  is  a  strong  tower: 
The  righteous  runneth  into  it,  and  is  safe. — Prov. 

xviii.  10. 
In  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  strong  confidence  : 
And  his  children  shall  have  a  place  of  refuge. — 
Prov.  xiv.  26. 

Hast  thou  not  known  ?  hast  thou  not  heard  ?  the 
everlasting  God,  the  Lord,  the  Creator  of  the  ends 
of  the  earth,  fainteth  not,  neither  is  weary  ;  there  is  no 
searching  of  his  understanding.  He  giveth  power 
to  the  faint;  and  to  him  that  hath  no  might  he 
increaseth  strength.     Even  the  youths  shall   faint 


BURIAL.  51 

and  be  weary,  and  the  young  men  shall  utterly  fail  : 
but  they  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  theii 
strength  ;  they  shall  mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles  ; 
they  shall  run,  and  not  be  weary  ;  they  shall  walk, 
and  not  faint. — ISA.  xl.  2S-31. 
Yea,    though    I   walk   through   the   valley   of    the 

shadow  of  death, 
I  will  fear  no  evil  ;  for  thou  art  with  me  : 
Thy  rod  and  thy  staff,  they  comfort  me. — Ps.  xxiii.  4. 
Blessed  are  all  they  that  put  their  trust  in  him. — Ps. 

ii.  12. 


V.     MORTALITV. 

Lord,  thou  hast  been  our  dwelling  place 

In  all  generations. 

Before  the  mountains  wTere  brought  forth, 

Or  ever  thou  hadst  formed  the  earth  and  the  world. 

Even  from  everlasting  to  everlasting,  thou  art  God. 

Thou  turnest  man  to  destruction  ; 

And  sayest,  Return,  ye  children  of  men. 

For  a  thousand  years  in  thy  sight 

Are  but  as  yesterday  wdien  it  is  past, 

And  as  a  watch  in  the  night. 

Thou  carriest  them  away  as  with  a  flood  ;  they  are 

as  a  sleep  : 
In  the  morning  they  are  like  grass  wmich  groweth  up. 
In  the  morning  it  flourisheth,  and  groweth  up ; 
In  the  evening  it  is  cut  down,  and  withereth. 
For  wTe  are  consumed  in  thine  anger, 
And  in  thy  wrath  are  we  troubled. 
Thou  hast  set  our  iniquities  before  thee, 


52  BURIAL. 

Our  secret  sins  in  the  light  of  thy  countenance. 
For  all  our  days  are  passed  away  in  thy  wrath  : 
We  bring  our  years  to  an  end  as  a  tale  that  is  told. 
The  days  of  our  years  are  threescore  years  and  ten, 
Or  even  by  reason  of  strength  fourscore  years ; 
Yet  is  their  pride  but  labour  and  sorrow  ; 
For  it  is  soon  gone,  and  we  fly  away. 
Who  knoweth  the  power  of  thine  anger, 
And  thy  wrath  according  to  the  fear  that  is  due  unto 

thee? 
So  teach  us  to  number  our  days, 
That  we  may  get  us  an  heart  of  wisdom. 
Return,  O  IyORD  ;  how  long  ? 
And  let  it  repent  thee  concerning  thy  servants. 
O  satisfy  us  in  the  morning  with  thy  mercy  ; 
That  we  may  rejoice  and  be  glad  all  our  days. 
Make  us  glad  according  to  the  days  wherein  thou 

hast  afflicted  us, 
And  the  years  wherein  we  have  seen  evil. 
L,et  thy  work  appear  unto  thy  servants, 
And  thy  glory  upon  their  children. 
And  let  the  beauty  of  the  Lord  our  God  be  upon  us : 
And  establish  thou  the  work  of  our  hands  upon  us  ; 
Yea,  the  work  of  our  hands  establish  thou  it. — Ps.  xc. 

Man  that  is  born  of  a  woman 

Is  of  few  days,  and  full  of  trouble. 

He  cometh  forth  like  a  flower,  and  is  cut  down  : 

He  fleeth  also  as  a  shadow,  and  continueth  not. — • 

Job  xiv.  1-2. 
As  for  man,  his  days  are  as  grass  ; 
As  a  flower  of  the  field,  so  he  flourisheth. 


BURIAL.  53 

For  the  wind  passeth  over  it,  and  it  is  gone  ; 

And  the  place  thereof  shall  know  it  no  more. — PS. 

ciii.  15-16. 
(For  we  are  but  of  yesterday,  and  know  nothing, 
Because  our  days  upon  earth  are  a  shadow.) — Joi; 

viii.  9. 
My  days  are  swifter  than  a  weaver's  shuttle.— Job 

vii.  6. 
Now  my  days  are  swifter  than  a  post : 
They  flee  away,  they  see  no  good. 
They  are  passed  away  as  the  swift  ships 
As  the  eagle  that  swoopeth  on  the  prey. — Job  ix. 

25-26. 
My  days   are   like   a   shadow  that   decline th. — Ps. 

cii.  11. 
Lord,  what  is  man,  that  thou  takest  knowledge  of 

him  ? 
Or  the  son  of  man,  that  thou  makest  account  of  him  ? 
Man  is  like  to  vanity  : 
His  days  are  as  a  shadow  that  passeth  away. — Ps. 

cxliv.  3-4. 
The  voice  of  one  saying,  Cry.  And  one  said, 
What  shall  I  cry?  All  flesh  is  grass,  and  all  the 
goodliness  thereof  is  as  the  flower  of  the  field  :  the 
grass  withereth,  the  flower  fadeth  ;  because  the  breath 
of  the  Lord  bloweth  upon  it :  surely  the  people  is 
grass.  The  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fadeth  :  but 
the  word  of  our  God  shall  stand  for  ever. — ISA.  xl  6-8. 
Go  to  now,  ye  that  say,  To-day  or  to-morrow  we 
will  go  into  this  city,  and  spend  a  year  there,  and 
trade,  and  get  gain  :  whereas  ye  know  not  what  shall 
be  on  the  morrow.     What  is  your  life  ?     For  ye  are 


54 


BURIAL. 


a  vapour,  that  appearetli  for  a  little  time,  and  then 
vanisheth  away.  For  that  ye  ought  to  say,  If  the 
Lord  will,  we  shall  both  live,  and  do  this  or  that. — 
Jas.  iv.  13-15. 

There  is  no  man  that  hath  power  over  the  spirit 
to  retain  the  spirit ;  neither  hath  he  power  over  the 
day  of  death  ;  and  there  is  no  discharge  in  that  war. 
— Ecc.  viii.  8. 

Lord,  make  me  to  know  mine  end, 
And  the  measure  of  my  days,  what  it  is  ; 
Let  me  know  how  frail  I  am. 

Behold,  thou  hast  made  my  days  as  handbreadths ; 
And  mine  age  is  as  nothing  before  thee  : 
Surely  every  man  at   his   best  estate  is  altogether 

vanity. 
Surely  every  man  walketh  in  a  vain  shew  : 
Surely  they  are  disquieted  in  vain  : 
He  heapeth  up  riches,  and  knoweth  not  who  shall 

gather  them. 
And  now,  Lord,  what  wait  I  for  ? 
My  hope  is  in  thee. — Ps.  xxxix.  4-7. 
Blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  daily  beareth  our  burden, 
Even  the  God  who  is  our  salvation. 
God  is  unto  us  a  God  of  deliverances  ; 
And  unto  Jehovah  the  Lord  belong  the  issues  from 

death. — Ps.  lxviii.  19-20. 
Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous, 
And  let  my  last  end  be  like  his  ! — Numb,  xxiii.  10. 
For  if  we  believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again, 
even  so  them  also  that  are  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus  will 
God  bring  with  him. — 1  Thess.  iv.  14. 


BURIAL. 


VI.    CHASTENING. 


55 


Therefore  let  us  also,  seeing  we  are  compassed 
about  with  so  great  a  cloud  of  witnesses,  lay  aside 
every  weight,  and  the  sin  which  doth  so  easily  beset 
us,  and  let  us  run  with  patience  the  race  that  is  set 
before  us,  looking  unto  Jesus  the  author  and  perfecter 
of  our  faith,  who  for  the  joy  that  was  set  before  him 
endured  the  cross,  despising  shame,  and  hath  sat 
down  at  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God.  For 
consider  him  that  hath  endured  such  gainsaying  of 
sinners  against  themselves,  that  ye  wax  not  weary, 
fainting  in  your  souls.  Ye  have  not  yet  resisted 
unto  blood,  striving  against  sin  :  and  ye  have  forgot- 
ten the  exhortation,  which  reasoneth  with  you  as 
with  sons, 
My  son,  regard  not  lightly  the  chastening  of  the 

Lord, 
Nor  faint  when  thou  art  reproved  of  him ; 
For  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth, 
And  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  receiveth. 

It  is  for  chastening  that  ye  endure  ;  God  dealeth 
with  you  as  with  sons  ;  for  what  son  is  there  whom 
his  father  chasteneth  not?  But  if  ye  are  without 
chastening,  whereof  all  have  been  made  partakers, 
then  are  ye  bastards,  and  not  sons.  Furthermore, 
we  had  the  fathers  of  our  flesh  to  chasten  us,  and 
we  gave  them  reverence  :  shall  we  not  much  rather 
be  in  subjection  unto  the  Father  of  spirits,  and  live? 
For  they  verily  for  a  few  days  chastened  us  as  seemed 
good  to  them  ;  but  he  for  our  profit,  that  we  may  be 


56  BURIAL. 

partakers  of  his  holiness.  All  chastening  seemeth 
for  the  present  to  be  not  joyous,  but  grievous ;  yet 
afterward  it  yieldeth  peaceable  fruit  unto  them  that 
have  been  exercised  thereby,  even  the  fruit  of  right- 
eousness.— Heb.  xii.  i— ii. 

For  a  small  moment  have  I  forsaken  thee  ;  but 
with  great  mercies  will  I  gather  thee.  In  overflow- 
ing wrath  I  hid  my  face  from  thee  for  a  moment ; 
but  with  everlasting  kindness  will  I  have  mercy  on 
thee,  saith  the  Lord  thy  redeemer.  For  this  is  as 
the  waters  of  Noah  unto  me  :  for  as  I  have  sworn 
that  the  waters  of  Noah  should  no  more  go  over  the 
earth,  so  have  I  sworn  that  I  would  not  be  wroth 
with  thee,  nor  rebuke  thee.  For  the  mountains, 
shall  depart,  and  the  hills  be  removed  ;  but  my  kind- 
ness shall  not  depart  from  thee,  neither  shall  my 
covenant  of  peace  be  removed,  saith  the  Lord  that 
hath  mercy  on  thee. 

O   thou   afflicted,  tossed  with   tempest,  and   not 
comforted,    behold,    I   will    set   thy   stones   in    fair 
colours,   and   lay  thy  foundations  with   sapphires. 
And  I  will  make  thy  pinnacles  of  rubies,  and  thy 
gates  of  carbuncles,  and  all  thy  border  of  pleasant 
stones. — Isa.  liv.  7-12. 
As  the  hart  panteth  after  the  water  brooks, 
So  panteth  my  soul  after  thee,  O  God. 
My  soul  thirsteth  for  God,  for  the  living  God  : 
When  shall  I  come  and  appear  before  God  ? 
My  tears  have  been  my  meat  day  and  night, 
While  they  continually  say  unto  me,  Where  is  thy 
God? 


BURIAL.  57 

These  things  I  remember,  and  pour  out  my  soul 

within  me, 

How  I  went  with  the  throng,  and  led  them  to  the 
house  of  God, 

With  the  voice  of  joy  and  praise,  a  multitude  keep- 
ing holyday. 

Why  art  thou  east  down,  O  my  soul  ? 

And  why  art  thou  disquieted  within  me  ? 

Hope  thou  in  God  :  for  I  shall  yet  praise  him 

For  the  health  of  his  countenance. 

Deep  calleth  unto  deep  at  the  noise  of  thy  water- 
spouts : 

All  thy  waves  and  thy  billows  are  gone  over  me. 

Yet  the  Lord  will  command  his  lovingkindness  in 
the  day-time, 

And  in  the  night  his  song  shall  be  with  me, 

Even  a  prayer  unto  the  God  of  my  life. — Ps.  xlii. 

i-5,  7-3- 
Will  the  Lord  cast  off  for  ever  ? 
And  will  he  be  favorable  no  more  ? 
Is  his  mercy  clean  gone  for  ever  ? 
Doth  his  promise  fail  for  evermore  ? 
Hath  God  forgotten  to  be  gracious  ? 
Hath  he  in  anger  shut  up  his  tender  mercies  ? 
And  I  said,  This  is  my  infirmity  ; 
But  I  will  remember  the  years  of  the  right  hand  of 

the  Most  High. 
I  will  make  mention  of  the  deeds  of  the  Lord  ; 
For  I  will  remember  thy  wonders  of  old. 
I  will  meditate  also  upon  all  thy  work, 
And  muse  on  thy  doings. — Ps.  lxxvii.  7-12. 
Cause  me  to  hear  thy  lovingkindness  in  the  morning  ; 


58  BURIAL. 

For  in  thee  do  I  trust : 

Cause  me  to  know  the  way  wherein  I  should  walk  ; 

For  I  lift  up  my  soul  unto  thee. 

Deliver  me,  O  Lord,  from  mine  enemies  : 

I  flee  unto  thee  to  hide  me. 

Teach  me  to  do  thy  will ;  for  thou  art  my  God : 

Thy  spirit  is  good  ;  lead  me  in  the  land  of  upright- 
ness. 

Quicken  me,  0  Lord,  for  thy  name's  sake  : 

In  thy  righteousness  bring  my  soul  out  of  trouble.  -J 
Ps.  cxliii.  8-1 1. 

Blessed   is  the  man   whom   thou   chastenest. — Ps. 
xciv.  12. 

Behold,  happy  is  4:he  man  whom  God  correcteth  : 

Therefore  despise  not  thou  the  chastening  of  the 
Almighty. 

For  he  maketh  sore,  and  bindeth  up  ; 

He  woundeth,  and  his  hands  make  whole. 

He  shall  deliver  thee  in  six  troubles  ; 

Yea,  in  seven  there  shall  no  evil  touch  thee. — Job 
v.  17-19. 


VII.    GODLY   SORROW. 


Godly  sorrow  worketh  repentance  unto  salvation, 
a  repeiitance  which  bringeth  no  regret :  but  the 
sorrow  of  the  world  worketh  death. — 2  Cor.  vii.  10. 

And  not  only  so,  but  let  us  also  rejoice  in  our 
tribulations :  knowing  that  tribulation  worketh 
patience  ;  and  patience,  probation  ;  and  probation, 
hope  :  and  hope  putteth  not  to  shame  ;  because  the 
love  of  God  hath  been  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts 


BURIAL 


59 


through  the  Holy  Ghost  which  was  given  unto  us. 

—Rom.  v.  3-5. 

Wherefore  we  faint  not ;  but  though  our  outward 
man  is  decaying,  yet  onr  inward  man  is  renewed  day 
by  day.     For  onr  light  affliction,  which  is  for  the 
moment,  worketh  for  us  more  and  more  exceedingly 
an  eternal  weight  of  glory  ;  while  we  look  not  at 
the  things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things  which 
are  not  seen  :  for  the  things  which  are  seen  are  tem- 
poral ;  but  the  things  which  are  not  seen  are  eternal. 
— 2  Cor.  iv.  16-18. 
Before  I  was  afflicted  I  went  astray  ; 
But  now  I  observe  thy  word. 
It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  afflicted  ; 
That  I  might  learn  thy  statutes. — Ps.  cxix.  67,  71. 
When  he  slew  them,  then  they  inquired  after  him  : 
And  they  returned  and  sought  God  early. 
And  they  remembered  that  God  was  their  rock, 
And  the  Most  High  God  their  redeemer. — Ps.  lxxviii. 

34-35- 

Beloved,  think  it  not  strange  concerning  the  fiery 
trial  among  you,  which  cometh  upon  you  to  prove 
you,  as  though  a  strange  thing  happened  unto  you : 
but  insomuch  as  ye  are  partakers  of  Christ's  suffer- 
ings, rejoice  ;  that  at  the  revelation  of  his  glory  also 
ye  may  rejoice  with  exceeding  joy. — 1  Pet.  iv.  12-13. 

For  I  am  persuaded,  that  neither  death,  nor  life, 
nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  things  present,  nor 
things  to  come,  nor  powers,  nor  height,  nor  depth, 
nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us 
from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our 
Lord. — Rom.  viii.  38-39. 


6o  BURIAL. 


VIII.    TRUST. 


God  is  our  refuge  and  strength, 
A  very  present  help  in  trouble. 
Therefore  will  we   not   fear,  though   the   earth  do 

change, 
And  though  the  mountains  be  moved  in  the  heart  of 

the  seas  ; 
Though  the  waters  thereof  roar  and  be  troubled, 
Though   the   mountains   shake   with   the   swelling 

thereof. — Ps.  xlvi.  1-3. 
He  that  dwelleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High 
Shall  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty. 
I  will  say  of  the  Lord,  He  is  my  refuge  and  my 

fortress  ; 
My  God,  in  whom  I  trust. 

For  he  shall  deliver  thee  from  the  snare  of  the  fowler, 
And  from  the  noisome  pestilence. 
He  shall  cover  thee  with  his  pinions, 
And  under  his  wings  shalt  thou  take  refuge  : 
His  truth  is  a  shield  and  a  buckler. 
Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  for  the  terror  by  night, 
Nor  for  the  arrow  that  flieth  by  day  ; 
For  the  pestilence  that  walketh  in  darkness, 
Nor  for  the  destruction  that  wasteth  at  noonday. 
A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy  side, 
And  ten  thousand  at  thy  right  hand  ; 
But  it  shall  not  come  nigh  thee. 
Only  with  thine  eyes  shalt  thou  behold, 
And  see  the  reward  of  the  wicked. 
For  thou,  O  Lord,  art  my  refuge  ! — Ps.  xci.  1-9. 


BURIAL.  6l 

Thou  shalt  guide  me  with  thy  counsel, 

And  afterward  receive  me  to  glory. 

Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee? 

And  there  is  none  upon  earth  that   I  desire  beside 

thee. 
My  flesh  and  my  heart  faileth  : 

But  God  is  the  strength  of  my  heart  and  my  portion 
for  ever. — Ps.  lxxiii.  24-26. 
For  I  know  him  whom  I  have  believed,  and  I  am 
persuaded  that  he  is  able  to  guard  that  which  I  have 
committed  unto  him  against  that  day. — 2  Tim.  i.  12. 
For  in  the  day  of  trouble  he  shall  keep  me  secretly 

in  his  pavilion  : 
In  the  covert  of  his  tabernacle  shall  he  hide  me  : 
He  shall  lift  me  up  upon  a  rock. — Ps.  xxvii.  5. 
Though  I  walk  in  the  midst  of  trouble,  thou  wait  re- 
vive me. — Ps.  exxxviii.  7. 
Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow 

of  death, 
I  will  fear  no  evil ;  for  thou  art  with  me  ; 
Thy  rod  and  thy  staff,  they  comfort  me. — Ps.  xxiii.  4. 
As  for  me,  I  shall  behold  thy  face  in  righteousness  : 
I  shall  be  satisfied,  when  I  awake,  with  thy  likeness. 

— Ps.  xvii.  15. 
I  know  that  my  redeemer  liveth, 
And  that  he  shall  stand  up  at  the  last  upon  the  earth  : 
And  after  my  skin  hath  been  thus  destroyed, 
Yet  from  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God. — Job  xix.  25-26. 
For  to  me  to  live  is  Christ,   and  to  die  is  gain. 
But  I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt  the  two,  having  the  de- 
sire to  depart  and  be  with  Christ ;  for  it  is  very  far 
better. — Phil.  i.  21,  23. 


62  BURIAL. 

For  we  know  that  if  the  earthly  house  of  our  tab- 
ernacle be  dissolved,  we  have  a  building  from  God, 
a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal,  in  the  heav- 
ens. Being  therefore  always  of  good  courage,  and 
knowing  that,  whilst  we  are  at  home  in  the  body, 
we  are  absent  from  the  Lord  (for  we  walk  by  faith, 
not  by  sight)  ;  we  are  of  good  courage,  I  say,  and 
are  willing  rather  to  be  absent  from  the  body,  and  to 
be  at  home  with  the  Lord. — 2  Cor.  v.  1,  6-8. 

For  I  reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this  present 
time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory 
which  shall  be  revealed  to  us-ward. — Rom.  viii.  18. 

Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul  ; 

And  all  that  is  within  me,  bless  his  holy  name. 

Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul, 

And  forget  not  all  his  benefits  : 

Who  forgiveth  all  thine  iniquities  ; 

Who  healeth  all  thy  diseases  ; 

Who  redeemeth  thy  life  from  destruction  ; 

Who  crowneth  thee  with  lovingkindness  and  tender 

mercies  : 
He  will  not  alwaj^s  chide  ; 
Neither  will  he  keep  his  anger  for  ever. 
He  hath  not  dealt  with  us  after  our  sins, 
Xor  rewarded  us  after  our  iniquities. 
For  as  the  heaven  is  high  above  the  earth, 
So  great  is  his  mercy  toward  them  that  fear  him. 
As  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west, 
So  far  hath  he  removed  our  transgressions  from  us. 
Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children, 
So  the  Lord  pitieth  them  that  fear  him. 


BURIAL. 

63 

For  he  knoweth  our  frame  ; 

He  remembereth  that  we  arc  dust. 

— PS.  ciii. 

1-4. 

9-14. 

The  Lord  is  my  shepherd  ;  I  shall  not  want. 

He  maketh  me  to  lie  down  in  green  pastures  : 

He  leadeth  me  beside  the  still  waters. 

He  restoreth  my  soul : 

He  guideth  me  in  the  paths  of  righteousness  for  his 
name's  sake. 

Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow 
of  death, 

I  will  fear  no  evil  ;  for  thou  art  with  me  : 

Thy  rod  and  thy  staff,  they  comfort  me. 

Thou  preparest  a  table  before  me  in  the  presence  of 
mine  enemies  : 

Thou  hast  anointed  my  head  with  oil ;  my  cup  run- 
neth over. 

Surely  goodness  and  mercy  shall  follow  me  all  the 
days  of  my  life  : 

And  I  will  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  for  ever. 
— Ps.  xxiii. 


IX.    RESURRECTION. 


For  to  this  end  Christ  died,  and  lived  again,  that 
he  might  be  Lord  of  both  the  dead  and  the  living. — 
Rom.  xiv.  9. 

Jesus  saith  unto  Martha,  Thy  brother  shall  rise 
again.  Martha  saith  unto  him,  I  know7  that  he  shall 
rise  again  in  the  resurrection  at  the  last  day.     Jesus 


64  BURIAL. 

said  unto  her,  I  am  the  resurrection,  and  the  life  : 
he  that  believe th  on  me,  though  he  die,  yet  shall  he 
live :  and  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  on  me 
shall  never  die. — John  xi.  23-26. 

For  this  is  the  will  of  my  Father,  that  every  one 
that  beholdeth  the  Son,  and  believeth  on  him,  should 
have  eternal  life  :  and  I  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last 
day. — John  vi.  40. 

Why  is  it  judged  incredible  with  you,  if  God  doth 
raise  the  dead  ? — Acts  xxvi.  8. 

Thou  foolish  one,  that  which  thou  thyself  so  west 
is  not  quickened,  except  it  die  :  and  that  which  thou 
sowest,  thou  sowest  not  the  body  that  shall  be,  but 
a  bare  grain,  it  may  chance  of  wheat,  or  of  some 
other  kind  ;  but  God  giveth  it  a  body  even  as  it 
pleased  him,  and  to  each  seed  a  body  of  its  own. 
So  also  is  the  resurrection  of  the  dead. — 1  Cor.  xv. 
36-38,  42. 

For  our  citizenship  is  in  heaven  ;  from  whence 
also  we  wait  for  a  Saviour,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ : 
who  shall  fashion  anew  the  body  of  our  humiliation, 
that  it  may  be  conformed  to  the  body  of  his  glory, 
according  to  the  working  whereby  he  is  able  even  to 
subject  all  things  unto  himself. — Phil.  iii.  20-21. 

But  we  would  not  have  you  ignorant,  brethren, 
concerning  them  that  fall  asleep  ;  that  ye  sorrow  not, 
even  as  the  rest,  which  have  no  hope.  For  if  we 
believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again,  even  so  them 
also  that  are  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring 
with  him.  For  this  we  say  unto  you  by  the  word  of 
the  Lord,  that  we  that  are  alive,  that  are  left  unto 
the  coming  of  the  Lord,  shall  in  no  wise  precede 


BURIAL.  65 

them  that  are  fallen  asleep.  For  the  Lord  himself 
shall  descend  from  heaven,  with  a  shout,  with  the 
voice  of  the  archangel,  and  with  the  trump  of  God  : 
and  the  dead  in  Christ  shall  rise  first :  then  we  that 
are  alive,  that  are  left,  shall  together  with  them  be 
caught  up  in  the  clouds,  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the 
air  :  and  so  shall  we  ever  be  with  the  Lord.  Where- 
fore comfort  one  another  with  these  words. — 1  Thess. 
iv.  13-18. 

And  I  saw  thrones,  and  the}-  sat  upon  them,  and 
judgment  was  given  unto  them  :  and  /  saw  the 
souls  of  them  that  had  been  beheaded  for  the  testi- 
mony of  Jesus,  and  for  the  word  of  God,  and  such 
as  worshipped  not  the  beast,  neither  his  image,  and 
received  not  the  mark  upon  their  forehead  and  upon 
their  hand  ;  and  they  lived,  and  reigned  with  Christ 
a  thousand  years.  The  rest  of  the  dead  lived  not 
until  the  thousand  years  should  be  finished.  This 
is  the  first  resurrection.  Blessed  and  holy  is  he  that 
hath  part  in  the  first  resurrection  :  over  these  the 
second  death  hath  no  power ;  but  they  shall  be 
priests  of  God  and  of  Christ,  and  shall  reign  with 
him  a  thousand  years. — Rev.  xx.  4-6. 

Now  if  Christ  is  preached  that  he  hath  been  raised 
from  the  dead,  howT  say  some  among  you  that  there 
is  no  resurrection  of  the  dead  ?  But  if  there  is  no 
resurrection  of  the  dead,  neither  hath  Christ  been 
raised  :  and  if  Christ  hath  not  been  raised,  then  is 
our  preaching  vain,  your  faith  also  is  vain.  Yea, 
and  wre  are  found  false  witnesses  of  God  ;  because 
we  witnessed  of  God  that  he  raised  up  Christ : 
whom  he  raised  not  up,  if  so  be  that  the  dead  are 
5 


66  BURIAL. 

not  raised.  For  if  the  dead  are  not  raised,  neither 
hath  Christ  been  raised  :  and  if  Christ  hath  not  been 
raised,  your  faith  is  vain  ;  ye  are  yet  in  your  sins. 
Then  they  also  which  are  fallen  asleep  in  Christ 
have  perished.  If  in  this  life  only  we  have  hoped 
in  Christ,  we  are  of  all  men  most  pitiable. 

But  now  hath  Christ  been  raised  from  the  dead, 
the  firstfruits  of  them  that  are  asleep.  For  since  by 
man  came  death,  by  man  came  also  the  resurrection 
of  the  dead.  For  as  in  Adam  all  die,  so  also  in 
Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive.  But  each  in  his  own 
order :  Christ  the  firstfruits ;  then  they  that  are 
Christ's,  at  his  coming.  Then  cometh  the  end,  when 
he  shall  deliver  up  the  kingdom  to  God,  even  the 
Father ;  when  he  shall  have  abolished  all  rule  and 
all  authority  and  power.  For  he  must  reign,  till  he 
hath  put  all  his  enemies  under  his  feet.  The  last 
enemy  that  shall  be  abolished  is  death.  For,  He  put 
all  things  in  subjection  under  his  feet.  But  when 
he  saith,  All  things  are  put  in  subjection,  it  is  evi- 
dent that  he  is  excepted  who  did  subject  all  things 
unto  him.  And  when  all  things  have  been  subjected 
unto  him,  then  shall  the  Son  also  himself  be  sub- 
jected to  him  that  did  subject  all  things  unto  him, 
that  God  may  be  all  in  all. 

But  some  one  will  say,  How  are  the  dead  raised  ? 
and  with  what  manner  of  body  do  they  come  ?  Thou 
foolish  one,  that  which  thou  thyself  sowest  is  not 
quickened,  except  it  die  :  and  that  which  thou  sow- 
est, thou  sowest  not  the  body  that  shall  be,  but  a 
bare  grain,  it  may  chance  of  wheat,  or  of  some  other 
kind ;  but  God  giveth  it  a  body  even  as  it  pleased 


BURIAL,  67 

him,  and  to  each  seed  a  body  of  its  own.  All  flesh 
i.^  not  the  same  flesh  :  but  there  is  one  flesh  of  men, 
and  another  flesh  of  beasts,  and  another  flesh  of 
birds,  and  another  of  fishes.  There  are  also  celes- 
tial bodies,  and  bodies  terrestrial :  but  the  glory  of 
the  celestial  is  one,  and  the  glory  of  the  terrestrial 
is  another.  There  is  one  glory  of  the  sun,  and 
another  glory  of  the  moon,  and  another  glory  of  the 
stars  ;  for  one  star  differeth  from  another  star  in 
glory.  So  also  is  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  It 
is  sown  in  corruption  ;  it  is  raised  in  incorruption  :  it 
is  sown  in  dishonour  ;  it  is  raised  in  glory  :  it  is  sown 
in  weakness  ;  it  is  raised  in  power  :  it  is  sown  a  nat- 
ural body  ;  it  is  raised  a  spiritual  body.  If  there  is 
a  natural  body,  there  is  also  a  spiritual  body.  So 
also  it  is  written,  The  first  man  Adam  became  a 
living  soul.  The  last  Adam  became  a  life-giving 
spirit.  Howbeit  that  is  not  first  which  is  spiritual, 
but  that  which  is  natural ;  then  that  which  is  spir- 
itual. The  first  man  is  of  the  earth,  earthy  ;  the 
second  man  is  of  heaven.  As  is  the  earthy,  such 
are  they  also  that  are  earthy  :  and  as  is  the  heavenly, 
such  are  they  also  that  are  heavenly.  And  as  we 
have  borne  the  image  of  the  earthy,  we  shall  also 
bear  the  image  of  the  heavenly. 

Now  this  I  say,  brethren,  that  flesh  and  blood 
cannot  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  neither  doth 
corruption  inherit  incorruption.  Behold,  I  tell  you 
a  mystery  :  We  shall  not  all  sleep,  but  we  shall  all 
be  changed,  in  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye, 
at  the  last  trump  :  for  the  trumpet  shall  sound,  and 
the  dead  shall  be  raised  incorruptible,  and  we  shall 


68  BURIAL. 

be  changed.  For  this  corruptible  must  put  on  in- 
corruption,  and  this  mortal  must  put  on  immortal- 
ity. But  when  this  corruptible  shall  have  put  on 
incorruption,  and  this  mortal  shall  have  put  on 
immortality,  then  shall  come  to  pass  the  saying  that 
is  written,  Death  is  swallowed  up  in  victory.  O 
death,  where  is  thy  victory  ?  O  death,  where  is  thy 
sting  ?  The  sting  of  death  is  sin  ;  and  the  power  of 
sin  is  the  law  :  but  thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth 
us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Wherefore,  my  beloved  brethren,  be  ye  stedfast,  un- 
movable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord, 
forasmuch  as  ye  know  that  your  labour  is  not  vain 
in  the  Lord. — i  Cor.  xv.  12-58. 


X.    HEAVKN — THE   PLACE. 

Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled  :  fye\  believe  in 
God,  believe  also  in  me.  In  my  Father's  house  are 
many  mansions  ;  if  it  were  not  so,  I  would  have 
told  you  ;  for  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you.  And 
if  I  go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you,  I  come  again, 
and  will  receive  you  unto  myself ;  that  where  I  am, 
there  ye  may  be  also. — John  xiv.  1-3. 

And  I  saw  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth  :  for 
the  first  heaven  and  the  first  earth  are  passed  away  ; 
and  the  sea  is  no  more.  And  I  saw  the  holy  city, 
new  Jerusalem,  coming  down  out  of  heaven  from 
God,  made  ready  as  a  bride  adorned  for  her  hus- 
band.    And  I  heard  a  great  voice  out  of  the  throne 


BURIAL,  69 

saying,  Behold,  the  tabernacle  of  God  is  with  men, 
and  he  shall  dwell  with  them,  and  they  shall  be  his 
peoples,  and  God  himself  shall  be  with  them,  and 
be  their  God.  And  he  carried  me  away  in  the  Spirit 
to  a  mountain  great  and  high,  and  showed  me  the 
holy  city  Jerusalem,  coming  down  out  of  heaven 
from  God,  having  the  glory  of  God  :  her  light  was 
like  unto  a  stone  most  precious,  as  it  were  a  jasper 
stone,  clear  as  crystal :  having  a  wall  great  and 
high  ;  having  twelve  gates,  and  at  the  gates  twelve 
angels.  And  the  twelve  gates  were  twelve  pearls  ; 
each  one  of  the  several  gates  was  of  one  pearl  :  and 
the  street  of  the  city  was  pure  gold,  as  it  were 
transparent  glass.  And  I  saw  no  temple  therein  : 
for  the  Lord  God  the  Almighty,  and  the  Lamb,  are 
the  temple  thereof.  And  the  city  hath  no  need  of 
the  sun,  neither  of  the  moon,  to  shine  upon  it :  for 
the  glory  of  God  did  lighten  it,  and  the  lamp 
thereof  is  the  Lamb.  And  the  nations  shall  walk 
amidst  the  light  thereof :  and  the  kings  of  the  earth 
do  bring  their  glory  into  it.  And  the  gates  thereof 
shall  in  no  wise  be  shut  by  day  (for  there  shall  be 
no  night  there)  :  And  they  shall  bring  the  glory 
and  the  honor  of  the  nations  into  it.  And  there 
shall  in  no  wise  enter  into  it  anything  unclean,  or 
he  that  maketh  an  abomination  and  a  lie  :  but 
only  they  which  are  written  in  the  Lamb's  book  of 
life. — Rev.  xxi.  1-4,  10-12,  21-27. 

And  he  shewed  me  a  river  of  water  of  life,  bright 
as  crystal,  proceeding  out  of  the  throne  of  God  and 
of  the  Lamb,  in  the  midst  of  the  street  thereof. 
And  on  this  side  of  the  river  and  on  that  was  the 


7o 


BURIAL. 


tree  of  life,  bearing  twelve  manner  of  fruits,  yield- 
ing its  fruit  every  month  :    and   the   leaves  of  the 

tree   were  for   the   healing   of  the   nations. — RKV. 

.. 

XXll.    1-2. 


HEAVEN — THE   WORSHIP. 

And  I  saw,  and  I  heard  a  voice  of  many  angels 
round  about  the  throne  and  the  living  creatures  and 
the  elders  ;  and  the  number  of  them  was  ten  thou- 
sand times  ten  thousand,  and  thousands  of  thou- 
sands;  saying  with  a  great  voice,  Worthy  is  the 
Lamb  that  hath  been  slain  to  receive  the  power, 
and  riches,  and  wisdom,  and  might,  and  honour, 
and  glory,  and  blessing.  And  every  created  thing 
which  is  in  the  heaven,  and  on  the  earth,  and  un- 
der the  earth,  and  on  the  sea,  and  all  things  that 
are  in  them,  heard  I  saying,  Unto  him  that  sitteth 
on  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb,  be  the  blessing, 
and  the  honour,  and  the  glory,  and  the  dominion, 
for  ever  and  ever. — Rev.  v.  ii— 13. 

After  these  things  I  saw,  and  behold,  a  great 
multitude,  which  no  man  could  number,  out  of 
every  nation,  and  of  all  tribes  and  peoples  and 
tongues,  standing  before  the  throne  and  before  the 
Lamb,  arrayed  in  white  robes,  and  palms  in  their 
hands  ;  and  they  cry  with  a  great  voice,  saying, 
Salvation  unto  our  God  which  sitteth  on  the  throne, 
and  unto  the  Lamb.  And  all  the  angels  were 
standing  round  about  the  throne,  and  about  the 
elders  and  the  four  living  creatures  ;  and  they  fell 


BURIAL. 


V- 


before  the  throne  on  their  faces,  and  worshipped 
God,  saying,  Amen  :  Blessing,  and  glory,  and 
wisdom,  and  thanksgiving,  and  honour,  and  power, 
and  might,  be  unto  God  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen. 
— Rev.  vii.  9-13. 


HEAVEN — THE   REWARD. 


And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying ,  Write, 
Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord,  from 
henceforth  :  yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may 
rest  from  their  labours  ;  for  their  works  follow  with 
them. — Rev.  xiv.  13. 

And  he  that  received  the  five  talents  came  and 
brought  other  five  talents,  saying,  Lord,  thou  de- 
liveredst  unto  me  five  talents  :  lo,  I  have  gained 
other  five  talents.  His  lord  said  unto  him,  Well 
done,  good  and  faithful  servant :  thou  hast  been 
faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  set  thee  over  many 
things  :  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  lord.  And 
he  also  that  received  the  two  talents  came  and  said, 
Lord,  thou  deliveredst  unto  me  two  talents  :  lo,  I 
have  gained  other  two  talents.  His  lord  said  unto 
him,  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant  ;  thou  hast 
been  faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  set  thee  over 
many  things  :  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  lord. 
— Matt.  xxv.  20-23. 

And  they  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the  bright- 
ness of  the  firmament  ;  and  they  that  turn  many  to 
righteousness  as  the  stars  for  ever  and  ever. — Dan. 
xii.  3. 


72 


BURIAL. 


And  I  heard  a  great  voice  out  of  the  throne  say- 
ing, Behold,  the  tabernacle  of  God  is  with  men, 
and  he  shall  dwell  with  them,  and  they  shall  be 
his  people,  and  God  himself  shall  be  with  them, 
and  be  their  God  :  and  he  shall  wipe  away  every 
tear  from  their  eyes  ;  and  death  shall  be  no  more  ; 
neither  shall  there  be  mourning,  nor  crying,  nor 
pain,  any  more  :  the  first  things  are  passed  away. 
And  he  that  sitteth  on  the  throne  said,  Behold,  I 
make  all  things  new.  And  he  saith,  Write :  for 
these  words  are  faithful  and  true.  And  he  said  un- 
to me,  They  are  come  to  pass.  I  am  the  Alpha  and 
the  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end.  I  will 
give  unto  him  that  is  athirst  of  the  fountain  of  the 
water  of  life  freely.  He  that  overcometh  shall  in- 
herit these  things ;  and  I  will  be  his  God,  and  he 
shall  be  my  son.— REV.  xxi.  3-7. 

And  one  of  the  elders  answered,  saying  unto  me, 
These  which  are  arrayed  in  the  white  robes,  who 
are  they,  and  whence  came  they  ?  And  I  say  unto 
him,  My  lord,  thou  knowest.  And  he  said  to  me, 
These  are  they  which  come  out  of  the  great  tribu- 
lation, and  they  washed  their  robes,  and  made 
them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  Therefore 
are  they  before  the  throne  of  God  ;  and  they  serve 
him  day  and  night  in  his  temple :  and  he  that  sit- 
teth on  the  throne  shall  spread  his  tabernacle  over 
them.  They  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst 
any  more  ;  neither  shall  the  sun  strike  upon  them, 
nor  any  heat  :  for  the  Lamb  which  is  in  the  midst 
of  the  throne  shall  be  their  shepherd,  and  shall 
guide  them  unto  fountains  of  waters  of  life  :  and 


BURIAL. 


73 


God  shall  wipe  away  every  tear  from  their  eyes. — 
Rev.  vii.  13-17. 

And  they  shall  see  his  face  ;  and  his  name  shall  be 
on  their  foreheads.  And  there  shall  be  night  no 
more  ;  and  they  need  no  light  of  lamp,  neither  light 
of  sun  ;  for  the  Lord  God  shall  give  them  light :  and 
they  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever. — Rev.  xxii.  4-5. 

[In  addition  to  the  above  Scripture  Selections  for  Funeral 
Service,  it  is  recommended  that  the  minister  consult  the  se- 
lections arranged  for  "The  House  of  Mourning."  Many  of 
thei k  will  be  found  of  rare  adaptation .] 


74  INFANT  BAPTISM. 


INFANT  BAPTISM. 


"Infants  descending  from  their  parents,  either  both  "r  but 
one  of  them,  professing  faith  in  Christ,  a?id  obedii  e  to 
Him,  are,  in  that  respect,  within  the  covenant,  and  are  to  be 
baptised." — Larger  Catechism.     Ans.  166. 

"Baptism  is  not  to  be  imnecessarily  delayed;  n  be 

admi?Ustered  by  any  private  person." — Directory  fo       'or- 
ship.     Ch.  vii.  I. 

' '  //  is  usually  to  be  administered  in  the  church  in  the  *  -*j- 
ence  of  the  congregation." — Directory  for  Worship.  Ch. 
vii.  2. 

FORM   FOR   INFANT   BAPTISM. 

While  the  child  is  being  brought  to  the  font,  the  ?n<.  'ster 
may  say  : 

And  they  brought  unto  him  also  their  babes,  thr 
he  should  touch  them  ;  but  when  the  disciples  saw 
it,  they  rebuked  them.  But  Jesus  called  them  unto 
him,  saying,  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto 
me,  and  forbid  them  not :  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom 
of  God. — Luke  xviii.  15-16. 

For  I  say  unto  you,  that  in  heaven  their  angels  do 
always  behold  the  face  of  my  Father  which  is  in 
heaven. — Matt,  xviii.  10. 

Even  so  it  is  not  the  will  of  your  Father  which  is 
in  heaven,  that  one  of  these  little  ones  should  perish. 
— Matt,  xviii.  14. 


INFAN1  BAPTISM.  75 

When  the  parents  and  child  have  taken  their  appropriate 
place,  the  minister  shall  say  : 

Let  us  pray. 

Blessed  Jesus,  thou  hast  encouraged  us  to  bring 
our  babes  to  thee  ;  for  thou  hast  said,  Of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  We  beseech  thee  take  up  this 
child  in  the  arms  of  thy  power  and  grace,  put  thy 
han«ls  upon  it,  and  bless  it.  May  it  be  a  vessel  of 
honor  sanctified,  and  meet  for  the  Master's  use,  and 
owned  as  one  of  thine  in  the  day  when  thou  makest 
up  thy  jewels.     Amen. 

Here  the  minister  shall  address  the  parents,  saying  : 

Dearly  Beloved  :  In  thus  presenting  your  child 
for -baptism,  you  renew  your  profession  of  faith  in 
Christianity,  and  your  hearty  acceptance  and  adop- 
f  :ou  of  it  as  the  religion  of  your  household. 

You  confess  that  this  child  has  inherited  a  de- 
ed nature,  and  that  thus  he  [or  she,  and  so 
elsewhere]  needs  the  renewing  and  sanctifying  in- 
fluence of  the  Holy  Spirit,  of  which  the  water  of 
baptism  is  the  scriptural  emblem. 

You,  do  here  and  now,  in  this  solemn  and  pre- 
cious rite,  publicly  express  that  faith  of  your  hearts, 
in  which  you  have  already  given  this  child  to  God  ; 
and  you  acknowledge  God's  right  to  take  him  from 
you  when  He  pleases,  and  to  employ  him  as  He 
pleases  in  His  service  and  to  His  glory. 

You  do  promise  to  pray  with,  and  for,  this  child, 
to  instruct  him  diligently  in  the  doctrines  and  du- 
ties of  Christianity,  and  to  do  what  in  you  lies  to 
bring  him  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord. 


76 


INFANT  BAPTISM. 


This  you  do,  humbly  hoping  that  you  are  Christ's, 
and  therefore  Abraham's  seed  and  heirs,  according 
to  the  promise,  and  on  this  scriptural  ground  be- 
lieving that  the  God  of  Abraham  will  be  your  God; 
and  the  God  of  your  children  after  you. 

Do  you  thus  believe  and  promise  ? 

Here  the  parents  shall  audibly  answer  : 

I  do. 

Then  the  minister  {taking  the  child  in  his  arms  or  not, 
according  to  the  wish  of  parents],  dipping  his  hand  in  water 
and  then  placing  his  hand  upon  the  child's  head,  a?id  using 
the  full  given  name  of  the  child,  shall  say : 

M N ,  child  of  the   covenant,  I  baptize 

thee  into  the  name  of  the  Father  and  of  the  Son 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     Amen. 

Let  us  pray. 

O  thou  Almighty  and  most  gracious  God,  who 
hast  consented  to  enter  into  covenant  with  thy  peo- 
ple, and  who  hast  granted  us  the  spirit  of  adoption, 
whereby  we  call  thee  Our  Father,  we  joyfully  pre- 
sent to  thee  this  dear  treasure  of  the  Christian 
household,  a  living  sacrifice,  which  we  desire  may 
be  holy  and  acceptable.  It  is  a  child  of  the  cove- 
nant, born  unto  thee,  born  in  thy  house.  Write 
thou  this  new  baptismal  name  in  the  Lamb's  book 
of  life.  Own  it  graciously  evermore  in  the  cove- 
nant of  thy  love.  Help  these  parents  to  keep  the 
solemn  and  tender  vows  they  have  taken.  And 
may  this  child  grow  like  the  Child  Jesus,  wax 
strong  in  spirit,  be  filled  with  grace  and  wisdom, 
and  prove  a  beautiful  plant  in  the  household  gar- 
den, and  a  joy  to  these  parents  forever. 


INFANT  BAPTISM. 


77 


Pour  thy  Spirit,  wc  beseech  thee,  upon  all  our 
offspring,  that  they  may  grow  up  as  willows  by  the 
water-courses,  and  may  come  to  subscribe  with 
their  own  hands  unto  the  Lord,  and  to  surname 
themselves  by  the  name  of  Israel. 

This  we  humbly  ask  in  the  name  of  thy  beloved 
Son,  who  has  taught  us  that  it  is  not  the  will  of  our 
Father  in  heaven  that  one  of  these  little  ones  should 
perish.     Amen. 


j8    RECEPTION  TO  THE  LORDS  SUPPER. 


FORM  FOR  RECEPTION  TO  THE  LORD'S 
SUPPER. 


T,    RECEPTION  OF  PERSONS   BAPTIZED  IN  THEIR 
INFANCY.* 

The  following  persons  tl  born  within  the  pale  ot 
the  visible  Church  "  and  in  their  infancy  dedicated 
to  God  in  baptism,  having  been  examined  and  ap- 
proved by  the  Session  as  to  their  knowledge  and 
Christian  experience,  will  now  present  themselves 
as  their  names  are  called,  publicly  to  confirm  their 
baptismal  obligations. 

Here  the  names  shall  be  read  by  the  minister,  and  when  the 

candidates  have  presented  themselves,  the  mi?iister  shall 

say:  J? 

Beloved: — Grace  be  unto  you  and  peace  from 

God  our  Father  and  from  the   Lord  Jesus   Christ. 

This   is   the  word   of  faith  which  we  preach  :  "  If 

thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus 

and  shalt  believe    in   thine   heart  that    God   hath 

raised  Him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved." 

By  virtue  of  your  connection  with  the  visible 
Church  through  believing  parents,  you  received  the 
sacrament    of    baptism    in    infancy,   according    to 

*  When  they  come  to  years  of  discretion,  if  they  be  free  from  scan- 
dal, appear  sober  and  steady,  and  to  have  sufficient  knowledge  to 
discern  the  Lord's  body,  they  ought  to  be  informed  it  is  their  duty 
and  privilege  to  come  to  the  Lord's  Supper.  (Directory  for  Worship, 
ch.  ix.) 


RECEPTION  TO  THE  LORD'S  SUPPER.     79 

Scriptural  warrant.  You  have  been  instructed  in 
the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments. 
You  have  been  taught  to  abhor  sin,  to  fear  God, 
and  obey  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

As  children  of  the  covenant  you  do  now  humbly 
trust  that  you  have  been  chosen  of  God  to  salva- 
tion through  sanctification  of  the  Spirit  and  belief 
of  the  truth,  and  you  regard  it  to  be  your  duty 
and  privilege  to  come  to  the  Lord's  Supper  ? 
Here  each  shall  audibly  ansiver : 

I  do. 

Then  the  minister  shall  say  : 

We  thankfully  recognize  the  seal  of  God  thus 
set  to  His  promise,  which  is  unto  us  and  to  our 
children.  We  rejoice  in  your  obedience  to  our 
common  Master,  who  said  to  His  disciples,  "  This 
do  in  remembrance  of  me."  We  welcome  you  to 
the  table  of  the  Lord.  Henceforth,  let  your  man- 
ner of  life  be  worthy  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ;  and 
may  you  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  our  Saviour  in 
all  things. 

II.     RECEPTION  OF  PERSONS    TO    BE    BAPTIZED    ON 
PUBLIC   PROFESSION   OF  THEIR   FAITH. * 

ADUI/T  BAPTISM. 

The  following  persons,  having  given  satisfaction 
with  respect  to  their  knowledge  and   Christian   ex- 

*When  unbaptized  persons  apply  for  admission  into  the  church, 
they  shall,  in  ordinary  cases,  after  giving  satisfaction  with  respect  to 
their  knowledge  and  piety,  make  a  public  profession  of  their  faith, 
in  the  presence  of  the  congregation ;  and  thereupon  be  baptized. 
(Directory  for  Worship,  ch.  ix.  4.) 


So     RECEPTION  TO  THE  LORD'S  SUPPER. 

perience  and  having  been  received  into  the  church 
by  the  Session,  are  now  to  make  a  public  profes- 
sion of  their  faith,  and  thereupon  to  be  baptized. 

Here  the  candidates  will  come  forward,  as  their  names  are 
called,  and  having  presented  themselves  the  minister  shall 
say  : 

Beloved  in  the  Lord  : — In  accordance  with  our 
Saviour's  words,  "Whosoever  shall  confess  Me 
before  men,  him  will  I  confess  also  before  my  Fa- 
ther which  is  in  heaven;" — you  here  and  now, 
confessing  and  repenting  of  your  sins,  and  trusting 
that  they  are  pardoned  solely  through  the  atoning 
sacrifice  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  do  publicly 
profess  your  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  and  your  accept- 
ance of  Him  as  your  Saviour  and  King,  whose  life 
is  your  supreme  example,  whose  death  is  your  only 
ground  of  hope,  whose  commandment  is  your 
supreme  law,  and  whose  perpetual  and  prevailing 
intercession  is  your  evermore  blessed  assurance  of 
salvation  to  the  uttermost 

Henceforth  avoiding  that  worldly  conformity 
which  is  forbidden  in  the  Scriptures,  and  seeking 
fellowship  with  the  people  of  God,  you  do  engage 
to  keep  covenant  with  them,  and  with  Him,  in  the 
faithful  and  diligent  observance  of  all  the  com- 
mandments and  ordinances  of  our  Lord  and  Sa- 
viour Jesus  Christ. 

Do  you  thus  believe  and  promise  ? 

Here  each  shall  audibly  answer : 
I  do. 


RECEPTION  TO  THE  LORD'S  SUPPER.     8 1 

litre  baptism  shall  be  administered.  The  minister,  dipping 
his  hand  in  water,  and  then  placing  his  hand  on  the  head 
of  the  candidate  for  baptism,  and  using-  the  full  giyi.x 
name  of  the  candidate,  shall  say  : 

M N ,  believer  in  Jesus,  I   baptize  thee 

into  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.     Amen. 

Let  us  pray. 

Most  holy  and  gracious  God,  thou  hast  heard 
this  public  confession  of  faith.  We  trust  it  is  the 
answer  of  a  true  heart.  Thou  hast  witnessed  this 
outward  seal  of  baptism,  given  in  thy  triune  name, 
Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost.  We  trust  it  marks 
an  inward  washing  of  regeneration  already  wrought 
by  thy  Spirit.  In  this  holy  sacramental  hour  may 
there  be  a  solemn  setting  apart  of  heart  and  life  to 
thy  service  forevermore.  And  as  these,  that  have 
now  publicly  confessed  their  faith,  henceforth  wear 
the  sacramental  seal  and  badge  of  discipleship,  wilt 
thou  by  thy  transforming  grace  make  them  living 
and  loving  epistles  of  Christ,  known  and  read  of 
all  men.  May  they  love  the  peace  of  thy  church, 
and  find  in  thy  courts  a  goodly  fellowship,  and  in 
the  keeping  of  thy  commandments  a  great  reward. 
Let  thy  statutes  be  their  songs  in  the  house  of 
their  pilgrimage :  and  let  thy  testimonies,  which 
they  have  taken  as  a  heritage  for  ever,  be  always 
the  rejoicing  of  their  hearts.  We  ask  it  in  Jesus' 
name.     Amen. 


82     RECEPTION  TO  THE  LORD'S  SUPPER. 


III.     RECEPTION   OF    PERSONS    COMING    BY   CERTIFI- 
CATE. 

The  following  persons  have  presented  letters  of 
dismission  and  recommendation  to  this  Church, 
which  have  been  accepted  by  the  Session.  They 
will  rise  in  their  places  as  their  names  are  called. 

Here  the  minister  shall  read  the  names  of  those  uniting  by 
letter,  and  when  they  have  risen  in  the  presence  of  the 
congregation,  the  minister  shall  say  : 

Dearly  Beloved  : — Having  heretofore  made  a 
public  profession  of  your  faith,  and  having  been 
commended  to  us  by  the  respective  churches  of 
which  you  were  members,  you  do  now  cordially 
acknowledge  your  special  relations  to  this  Church, 
desiring  in  all  things  to  walk  worthy  the  vocation 
wherewith  we  are  called. 


IV.     WELCOME   BY   THE   CHURCH. 

Here  all  the  members  of  the  Church  will  rise,  to  'welcome 
all  that  have  presented  themselves,  either  on  profession  or 
by  letter,  and  the  minister  shall  say: 

We,  the  officers  and  members  of  this  Church, 
earnestly  welcome  you  to  our  communion,  to  share 
with  us  the  labors  and  privileges,  the  trials  and  the 
rewards,  of  Christian  discipleship. 

Let  us  together  "  confess  that  we  are  pilgrims 
on  the  earth,"  and  "  declare  plainly  that  we  seek  a 
country ;"  "  looking  for  the  blessed  hope,  and  ap- 


RECEPTION  TO  THE  LORD'S  SUPPER.     S3 

pearing  of  the  glory  of  our  great  God  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ." 

"  We  are  persuaded  of  you  things  that  accom- 
pany salvation."  Living  and  dying  may  you  be 
the  Lord's;  and  at  last,  may  you  and  we,  faithful 
unto  death,  and  more  than  conquerors  through 
Him  that  loved  us,  stand  holy  and  unreprovable  in 
His  sight  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  His  grace, 
being  entered  into  that  blessed  heavenly  fellowship, 
where  our  communion  shall  be  forever  perfect  and 
our  joy  forever  full. 

Here  may  be  sung  this  stanza  : 

Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds 
Our  hearts  in  Christian  love  ; 

The  fellowship  of  kindred  minds 
Is  like  to  that  above. 

"  The  Lord  bless  you  and  keep  you.  The  Lord 
make  his  face  shine  upon  you  and  be  gracious  unto 
you.  The  Lord  lift  up  His  countenance  upon  you 
and  give  you  peace." 

"  Now  unto  Him  that  is  able  to  guard  you  from 
stumbling,  and  to  set  you  before  the  presence  of 
His  glory  without  blemish,  in  exceeding  joy,  to 
the  only  God  our  Saviour,  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord,  be  glory,  majesty,  dominion  and  power, 
before  all  time,  and  now,  and  for  evermore.  Amen." 


84  PRESBYTERIAN  DOCTRINE. 


SUMMARY  OF  PRESBYTERIAN  DOCTRINE. 


The  doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  are  set  forth  in 
the  Confession  of  Faith,  as  also  in  the  Larger  and  Shorter 
Catechism.  The  sincere  reception  and  adoption  of  this 
Confession  of  Faith,  "as  containing  the  system  of  doctrine 
taught  in  the  Scriptures"  is  demanded  of  all  ministers  and 
ruling-elders. 

But  of  Church  members  it  is  only  required  that  they  give 
credible  evidence  of  faith  in  the  Lord  fesus  Christ,  the 
faith  proving  itself  in  penitence  for  sin,  and  obedience  to 
the  commandments.  To  demand  public  assent  to  an  ex- 
tended creed  from  those  uniting  with  the  visible  Church 
is  not  according  to  the  letter  or  the  spirit  of  Presbytertian 
law. 

It  would  seem  to  be  fitting,  however,  that  there  should  be 
occasionally  set  forth  a  brief  summary  of  the  chief  doctrines 
of  the  faith  held  by  the  Church.  It  is,  therefore,  suggested 
that  the  following,  or  a  like  statement,  of  the  principal  doc- 
trines of  the  Confession  of  Faith,  be  publicly  read  in  connec- 
tion with  the  reception  of  new  members  to  the  fellowship  of 
the  Church,  and  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

SUMMARY   OF   DOCTRINE   HELD   BY   THE   PRESBY- 
TERIAN   CHURCH. 

I.  One  God  ;  infinite,  eternal  and  unchangeable 
in  his  being,  wisdom,  power,  holiness,  justice,  good- 
ness and  truth,  subsisting  in  mysterious  and  eternal 
trinity — Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 


PRESBYTERL  IN  DOCTRINE.  85 

II.  One  Word  ;  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments,  all  given  by  inspiration  of  God, 
and  our  only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 

III.  One  Condemnation  ;  there  being  no  differ- 
ence, for  all  have  sinned  and  come  short  of  the 
glory,  of  God,  because  the  carnal  mind  is  enmity 
against  God. 

IV.  One  Saviour  ;  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  God 
manifest  in  the  flesh,  the  power  unto  salvation  from 
sin  and  endless  death,  by  atoning  expiatory  sacrifice, 
through  faith. 

V.  One  Atonement  for  Sin  ;  made  by  Jesus 
Christ  in  his  obedience  unto  death,  sufficient  for  all, 
adapted  to  all,  taking  every  legal  obstacle  out  of 
the  way  of  all,  and  on  these  grounds  to  be  offered 
to  all. 

VI.  One  Spirit;  God,  the  Holy  Ghost,  through 
whose  sovereign  agency  in  regeneration,  the  soul, 
dead  in  sin,  is  made  alive  in  Christ,  and  through 
whose  sovereign  agency  in  sanctification,  the  soul  is 
changed  more  and  more  into  the  divine  image  from 
glory  to  glory. 

VII.  One  Life  ;  the  life  hid  with  Christ  in  God 
— the  life  eternal ;  begun  when  a  sinner  believes,  and 
assured  forever  thereafter  by  the  effectual  and  sover- 
eign grace  of  God  ;  so  that  once  given  this  eternal 
life,  no  believer  shall  ever  perish. 

VIII.  One  Church  ;  which  is  Christ's  body,  all 
the  members  of  which,  God  hath  from  the  beginning 
chosen  to  salvation  through  sanctification  of  the 
Spirit  and  belief  of  the  Truth. 

IX.  Two  Sacraments,  and  only  two,  as  ordained 


86  PRESB  YTERIAN  DOCTRINE. 

by  Christ — Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper.  Bap- 
tism being  a  sacrament  wherein  we  have  "  sign  and 
seal  of  ingrafting  into  Christ,  of  remission  of  sins 
by  His  blood,  and  regeneration  by  His  spirit;"  and 
the  Lord's  Supper  being  a  sacrament  wherein  "  the 
Lord's  death  is  showed  forth,"  and  the  worthy 
receivers  are,  by  faith,  "  made  partakers  of  his  body 
and  blood,  to  their  spiritual  nourishment  and  growth 
in  grace." 

X.  One  Judgment;  when  the  dead,  small  and 
great  shall  stand  before  God,  and  every  man  shall 
be  judged  according  to  his  works  ;  and  the  wicked 
shall  go  away  into  everlasting  punishment,  but  the 
righteous  into  life  eternal. 


NOTES  UN  PUE  LORD'S  SUPPER.  Sy 


NOTES  CONCERNING  THE  LORD'S  SUPPER. 


"Our  Lord  Jesus,  in  the  night  wherein  he  was 
betrayed,  instituted  the  sacrament  of  His  body  and 
blood,  called  the  Lord's  Supper,  to  be  observed  in 
His  church  unto  the  end  of  the  world;  for  the  per- 
petual remembrance  of  the  sacrifice  of  Himself  in 
His  death,  the  sealing  all  benefits  thereof  unto  true 
believers,  their  spiritual  nourishment  and  growth  in 
Him,  their  further  engagement  in  and  to  all  duties 
which  they  owe  unto  Him  ;  and  to  be  a  bond  and 
pledge  of  their  communion  with  Him  and  with  each 
other,  as  members  of  His  mystical  body."  Conf. 
of  Faith,  chap,  xxix.,  I. 

The  Presbyterian  Church,  recognizing  all  true 
disciples  of  Jesus  Christ  as  brethren,  does  not  deny 
the  right  to  this  sacramental  table  of  any  who  call 
Jesus  Lord,  and  have  life  in  Him  "  through  faith  in 
His  blood,"  and  prove  the  possession  of  that  life  by 
practical  obedience.  "  The  cup  of  blessing  which 
we  bless,  is  it  not  the  communion  of  the  blood  of 
Christ?"      I  Cor.  x.,  1 6. 

Therefore,  "  such  as,  sensible  of  their  lost  and 
helpless  state  by  sin,  depend  upon  the  atonement 
of  Christ  for  pardon  and  acceptance  with  God,  and, 
renouncing  their  sins,  are  determined  to  lead  a  holy 
and  godly  life,"  are  invited  to  this  Supper  of  the 
Lord. 


88  NOTES  OiV  THE  LORD'S  SUPPER. 

"  The  profane,  the  ignorant,  and  the  scandalous, 
and  those  that  secretly  indulge  themselves  in  any 
known  sin,  are  not  to  approach  the  holy  table." 
Directory  for  Worship,  chap,  viii.,  4. 

"  One  who  doubteth  of  his  being  in  Christ,  or  of 
his  due  preparation  to  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper,  may  have  true  interest  in  Christ,  though  he 
be  not  yet  assured  thereof;  and  in  God's  account 
hath  it,  if  he  be  duly  affected  with  the  apprehen- 
sion of  the  want  of  it,  and  unfeignedly  desires  to 
be  found  in  Christ,  and  to  depart  from  iniquity ;  in 
which  case  (because  promises  are  made  and  this 
sacrament  is  appointed  for  the  relief  even  of  weak 
and  doubting  Christians)  he  is  to  bewail  his  unbe- 
lief, and  labor  to  have  his  doubts  resolved ;  and,  so 
doing,  he  may  and  ought  to  come  to  the  Lord's 
Supper,  that  he  may  be  further  strengthened." 
Larger  Catechism,  Ans.  172. 


'O 


ADMINISTR.  I  TION  OP'  LORD'S  SUPPER.   89 


FORM  FOR  ADMINISTRATION  OF  THE 
LORD'S  SUPPER. 


If  the  communion  shall  immediately  follow  a  preaching 
service,  the  minister,  at  the  close  of  the  sermon,  and  after  the 
reception  of  new  members,  shall  give  opportunity,  to  those 
who  may  so  desire,  to  withdraw  from  the  service.  IJut  a 
cordial  invitation  should  be  extended  to  all  to  remain.  Per- 
haps the  least  disturbance  would  arise  by  having  those  who 
wish  to  withdraw,  pass  from  the  church  during  the  singing 
of  the  hymn.  But  this  termination  of  the  precedent  general 
public  service  may  be  more  distinctly  marked  by  the  bene- 
diction. 

If  the  administration  of  the  communion  shall  be  a  dis- 
tinct service,  it  may  be  introduced  after  the  usual  manner 
of  public  service,  by  an  invocation,  the  singing  of  a  hymn, 
the  reading  of  Scripture,  and  the  offering  of  prayer.  After 
which  the  service  shall  proceed  as  at  the  close  of  the  sermon. 

After  the  public  recognition  and  reception  of  any  who 
may  for  the  first  time  come  to  the  Lord's  table  (the  form  for 
which  is  elsewhere  given,  pp.  78-83),  the  congregation  shall 
nite  in  singing  an  appropriate  sacramental  hymn. 

During^  or  at  the  close  of,  the  singing  of  this  hymn,  the 
'nister  shall  pass  from  the  pulpit  to  the  communion-table, 
nil  the  elders  shall  come  forward  and  take  their  scats  on 
either  side  of  him.     Then  the  minister  shall  say : 

Hear  the  words  of  the  Institution  of  this  Holy 
Supper  of  our  Lord,  as  they  are  given  by  the 
Apostle  Paul  : 

For  I  received  of  the  Lord  that  which  also  I 
delivered  unto  youjhowithat  the  Lord  Jesus  in  the 


90   ADMINISTRATION  OF  LORD'S  SUPPER. 

night  in  which  he  was  betrayed  took  bread ;  and 
when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  brake  it,  and  said, 
This  is  my  body,  which  is  for  you  :  this  do  in  r^ 
membrance  of  me.  In  like  manner  also  the  cup, 
after  supper,  saying,  This  cup  is  the  new  covenant 
in  my  blood :  this  do,  as  often  as  ye  drink  it,  in  re- 
membrance of  me.  For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this 
bread,  and  drink  the  cup,  ye  proclaim  the  Lord's 
death  till  he  come. —  I  Cor.  xi.  23-26. 

Here  the  minister  shall  make  a  brief  address,  if  further 
word  of  counsel  or  comfort  be  thought  desirable  ;  setting 
forth  the  nature  of  the  feast,  as  a  memorial  feast — "  this  do 
in  remembrance  of  me  ;  "  or,  a  sacramental  feast — "  this  is 
my  blood  of  the  covenant  ;  "  or,  a  feast  of  appropriation — 
"  take,  eat,  this  is  my  body  ;  "  or,  a  feast  of  testimony — 
"  ye  proclaim  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come  ;  "  or,  a  feast 
of  communion — "  the  cup  of  blessing  which  we  bless,  is  it 
not  a  communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ  ?  the  bread  which 
we  break,  is  it  not  a  communion  of  the  body  of  Christ?  " 
And  thus,  or  in  some  like  manner,  it  may  be  shown  that 
this  Holy  Supper  of  our  Lord  "is  of  inestimable  benefit, 
to  strengthen  his  people  against  sin  ;  to  support  them  under 
troubles  ;  to  encourage  and  quicken  them  in  duty ;  to  in- 
spire them  with  love  and  zeal  ;  to  increase  their  faith,  and 
holy  resolution  ;  and  to  beget  peace  of  conscience,  and  com- 
fortable hopes  of  eternal  life." 

Then  the  minister  shall  extend  invitation  to  the  Lord's 
Supper,  saying  : 

All  who,  "  sensible  of  their  lost  and  helpless 
state  by  sin,  depend  upon  the  atonement  of  Christ 
for  pardon  and  acceptance  with  God,"  and  who  are 
duly  instructed  in  gospel  doctrine  so  as  "  to  discern 
the  Lord's  body,"  and  who  "desire  to   renounce 


ADMINISTR.  I  TION  OF  LORD'S  SUPPER. 


91 


their  sins,  and  arc  determined  to  lead  a  holy 
and  godly  life,"  are  invited  to  partake  of  this  sup- 
per.* 

Here  the  congregation  may  audibly  repeat  with  the  min- 
ister the  Apostle?  Creed . 

I  believe  in  God,  the  Father  Almighty,  Maker  of 
heaven  and  earth : 

And  in  Jesus  Christ,  His  only  Son  our  Lord, 
who  was  conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  born  of  the 
Virgin  Mary;  suffered  under  Pontius  Pilate,  was 
crucified,  dead,  and  buried ;  He  descended  into 
hell;  the  third  day  He  rose  from  the  dead;  He 
ascended  into  heaven,  and  sitteth  on  the  right 
hand  of  God  the  Father  Almighty ;  from  thence 
He  shall  come  to  judge  the  quick  and  the 
dead. 

I  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost ;  the  Holy  Catholic 
Church;  the  communion  of  saints  ;  the  forgiveness 
of  sins ;  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  and  the  life 
everlasting.     Amen. 

Then  the  minister  shall  offer  the  prayer  of  consecration, 
setting  the  elements  of  bread  and  wine  apart  from  a  com-  -. 
men  to  a  sacred  use.  The  prayer  here  following,  as  also 
prayer  elsavhere  found  in  this  book,  is  not  intended  as  a 
fixed  form  for  rigid  observance,  but  as  simply  suggestive, 
and  a  possible  help  to  devotional  expression. 

O  thou  ever-blessed  God,  our  divine  Master  and 
King^ve  are  again   met  in  thy  banqueting  hous^ 
(with  thy  banner  of  love  over  us^  Thou  hast  called 
us  once  more  to  thy  sacramental  supper.     We  are 

*See  Directory  for  Worship,  Ch.  viii.  4. 


92    ADMINISTRA  TION  OF  LORD'S  SUPPER. 

invited  to  come  and  eat  of  wisdom's  bread,  and 
drink  of  the  wine  that  she  has  mingled.  Give  us 
to  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness. 

We  acknowledge  ourselves  utterly  unworthy  of 
being  invited  to  communion  with  thee  at  thy  holy 
table,  where  are  spread  the  memorials  of  thy  love 
and  sacrifice.  We  deserve  not  the  crumbs  that  may 
fall  from  thy  table ;  yet  thou  hast  called  us  to  eat 
the  children's  bread.  |  But  thou  hast  taken  us  into 
covenant  with  thee  ;  for  we  are  thy  baptized  ones, 
set  apart  for  thee,  and  sealed  to  be  thine.  And  we 
would  not  question  the  ways  of  thy  grace.  Forgive 
us,  Lord,  for  all  our  past  offences,  and  bless  us  now 
with  thy  pardon  and  thy  peace. 

We  do  thank  thee  for  the  institution  of  this 
blessed  ordinance,  this  precious  legacy  and  token 
of  thy  love.  And  that  we  may  not  come  unworth- 
ily to  this  sacred  memorial  feast,  we  beseech  thee, 
O  thou  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  lead  us  into  a  more  in- 
timate and  experimental  acquaintance  with  Jesus 
Christ  and  him  crucified — with  Jesus  Christ  and 
him  glorified ;  that,  knowing  him  and  the  power  of 
his  resurrection,  and  the  fellowship  of  his  suffer- 
ings,  we  may  both  discern  the  Lord's  body  and 
show  the  Lord's  death. 

O  let  the  great  gospel  doctrine  of  Christ's  dying 
to  save  sinners,  which  is  represented  in  this  ordi- 
nance, be  both  nourishing  and  refreshing  to  us;  be 
both  our  strength  and  our  song;  the  spring  of  our 
holiness  and  our  joy.  Seal  to  us,  O  thou  Lamb  of 
God,  who  art  at  once  the  Lord  and  the  victim  of 
this   sacrificial  feast — seal  to  us  these  symbols  of 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  LORD'S  SUPPER.    93 

thy  body  and  thy  blood,  as  they  arc  now  set  apart 
to  sacred  use. 

Let  this  cup  of  blessing  which  we  bless,  be  the 
communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ;  let  this 
bread  which  we  break,  be  the  communion  of  the 
body  of  Christ ;  and  enable  us  herein  to  show  the 
Lord's  death  till  he  come.  Let  Christ's  flesh  be 
meat  indeed  to  us,  and  his  blood  drink  indeed. 
And  give  us  so  by  faith  to  eat  his  flesh  and  drink 
his  blood,  that  he  may  dwell  in  us,  and  we  in  him, 
that  we  may  live  by  him. 
/"Awake,  O  north  wind,  and  come,  thou  soutl 
I  and  blow  upon  our  garden,  that  the  spices  thereof] 
may  flow  forth  ;  and  then  let  our  Beloved  come 
into  his  garden  and  eat  his  pleasant  fruits,  so  that 
each  of  us  may  be  able  to  say,  in  the  fullness  of  a 
humble,  yet  trustful  and  confia^ejo^J^ve^^l^Be; 
love^jsjnine^and  I  amhis.JWe  ask  it  in  Jesus' 
Enamel     Amen! 

The  bread  and  the  wine  being-  thus  set  apart  by  prayer,  the 
minister  shall  take  the  bread,  and  say  : 

Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  on  the  same  night  in 
which  he  was  betrayed,  having  taken  bread  and 
blessed  and  broken  it,  gave  it  to  his  disciples,  as  I, 
ministering  in  his  name,  give  this  bread  unto  you, 
saying  [here  the  bread  is  to  be  Jianded  to  the 
eldcrs\,  Take,  eat :  this  is  my  body,  which  is  for 
you :  this  do,  in  remembrance  of  me. 

Then  the  elders  shall  proceed  in  the  orderly  distribution 
of  the  bread  to  the  people,  the  minister  himself  receiving  the 
bread  of  one  of  the  officers  and  communicating  at  such  time 
as  may  appear  to  him  most  convenient. 


94   ADMINISTRATION  OF  LORD'S  SUPPER. 

During  the  distribution  of  both  the  bread  and  the  wine,  it 
would  seem  most  jit  to  leave  the  communicants,  each  in  un- 
disturbed, personal,  silent  communion  with  the  Lord. 

After  the  elders  have  returned  from  distributing  the 
bread,  the  minister  should  ask  ,iny  who  may  have  been 
passed  by  in  the  distribution  to  manifest  it  by  the  uplifted 
hand,  or  by  i  ising. 

Then  the  minister  should  take  the  bread  and  pass  it  to 
each  of  the  elders  for  their  participation,  saying  : 

The  body  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  which  is  for  you. 
This  do  in  remembrance  of  him. 

After  all  have  thus  partaken  of  the  bread,  the  minister 
shall  take  the  cup,  and  say  : 

After  the  same  manner,  our  Saviour  also  took 
the  cup  :  and,  having  given  thanks,  as  hath  been 
done  in  his  name,  he  gave  it  to  the  disciples :  say- 
ing \here  the  cup  is  to  be  1  landed  to  the  elders],  This 
cup  is  the  new  covenant  in  my  blood  :  this  do,  as 
oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in  remembrance  of  me.  And  the 
Apostle  added,  For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this  bread 
and  drink  this  cup,  ye  proclaim  the  Lord's  death 
till  he  come. 

Then  the  elders  shall  proceed  with  the  distribution  of  the 
cup  after  the  same  order  as  with  the  bread,  until  minister, 
people,  and  elders  have  all  drank  of  it. 

Then  the  minister  is  to  pray  and  give  thanks  to  God  "for 
his  rich  mercy  and  invaluable  goodness,  vouchsafed  to  them 
in  the  sacred  communion  ;  to  implore  pardon  for  the  defects 
of  the  whole  service  ;  and  to  pray  for  the  acceptance  of  their 
persons  and  performances  ;  for  the  gracious  assistance  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  to  enable  them,  as  they  have  received  Christ 
Jesus  the  Lord,  so  to  walk  in  him  ;  that  they  may  holdfast 
that  which  they  have  received,  that  no  man  take  their  crown  ; 
that  their  conversation  may  be  as  becometh  the  gospel ;  that 


ADMINISTRA  TION  OF  LORD'S  SUPPER,    95 

they  may  bear  about  with  them,  continually,  the  dying  of  the 

Lord  Jesus  ;  that  the  life  also  of  Jesus  may  be  manifested  in 
their  mortal  body  ;  that  their  light  may  so  shine  before  men, 
that  others,  seeing  their  good  works,  may  glorify  their 
Father  who  is  in  heaven.*1 

Then  the  offering  in  behalf  of  the  poor  shall  be  made; 
after  which  shall  be  sung  a  hymn,  such  as  "  Poe/c  of  Ages ,u 

Then  the  minister  shall  pronouuee  the  following,  or  some 
other  gospel  benediction  : 

Now  the  God  of  peace,  who  brought  again  from 
the  dead  the  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,  with  the 
blood  of  the  eternal  covenant,  even  our  Lord  Jesus, 
make  you  perfect  in  every  good  thing  to  do  his 
will,  working  in  us  that  which  is  well-pleasing  in 
his  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ:  to  whom  be  the 
glory  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 


96  ORGANIZATION  OF  A  CHURCH. 


FORM  FOR  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  A 
CHURCH. 


"  A  particular  church  consists  of  a  number  of  professing 
Christians  with  their  off  spring  voluntarily  associated  to- 
gether for  divine  worship  and  godly  living,  agreeably  to 
the  Holy  Scriptures  ;  and  submitting  to  a  certain  form 
of  government." — Form  of  Government,  Ch.  ii.  4. 
While  such  an  orga?iizatio?i  undoubtedly  can  be  effected 
without  the  agency  of  a  Presbytery,  it  is,  nevertheless,  ex- 
ceedingly desirable  that  it  be  secia'ed  under  Presbyterial 
direction ,  by  a  Committee  of  Presbytery  duly  appointed 
for  the  purpose,  so  that  everything  may  be  done  ' '  dece?itly 
and  i?i  order." 
"  This  organization  ought  always  to  be  made  by  application 
to  the  Presbytery  within  the  bounds  of  which  the  church 
to  be  organized  is  found,  unless  this  be  exceedi?igly  incon- 
venient, in  which  case  it  may  be  done  by  a  duly  author- 
ized missionary,  or  a  neighboring  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel. ' '  —  General  Assembly,  1 83 1 . 

At  a  preliminary  meeting  of  those  wishing  to  be  formed 
into  a  church  organization,  presided  over  by  a  minister  of 
the  Committee  of  Presbytery  duly  appointed  for  the  pur- 
pose, or  \>y  a  duly  authorized  neighboring  minister,  certifi- 
cates should  be  received  from  those  who  are  dismissed  from 
other  churches,  and  examination  should  be  had  of  those 
desiring  to  unite  with  the  new  church  on  profession  of  faith. 
The  certificates  having  been  found  in  order,  and  the  ex- 
amination having  been  sustained,  the  applicants  for  mem- 
bership in  the  new  church  are  to  be  notified  of  their  ac- 
ceptance, and  asked  to  appear  at  the  public  service,  that  the 
church  may  be  duly  constituted. 


ORGANIZA  TION  OF  A  CHI  rR(  If.  97 

At  the  service  of  organization  it  is  appropriate  that  a  ser- 
mon should  be  preached.  The  minister  conducting  the  ex- 
ercises should  then   state  the  purpose  of  the  meeting,  the 

action  already  had  and  the  responsibility  and  solemnity  of 
the  step  now  to  be  taken  in  formally  constituting  a  church 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Then  the  applicants  approved  for  membership  in  the  new 
church  shall  rise  in  their  places  as  their  names  are  catted, 
and  be  addressed  as  follows  : 

Do  you  whose  names  have  just  now  been  read 
publicly  declare  that  you  desire  to  be  organized  as 
a  Church  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  glory  of  God  and 
for  the  benefit  of  yourselves  and  your  children  and 
your  fellow-men  ? 

To  this,  and  each  of  the  folloztring  questions,  the  applicants 
shall  unitedly  and  audibly  anszver : 

We  do. 

Do  you  approve  and  adopt  "  The  Form  of  Gov- 
ernment," "  The  Book  of  Discipline  "  and  "  The 
Directory  of  Worship"  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America,  and  desire  to  be 
regulated  thereby  ? 

We  do. 

Do  you  recognize  the  Confession  of  Faith  and 
the  Larger  and  Shorter  Catechisms  as  containing 
the  system  of  scriptural  doctrine  held  by  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  taught  in  her  pulpits  and  sin- 
cerely received  and  adopted  by  every  minister  and 
elder  in  her  communion  ? 

We  do. 

Do  you  promise  to  yield  all  due  obedience  in 
the  Lord  to  those  who  shall  be  set  as  office-bearers 
7 


98  ORGANIZATION  OF  A  CHURCH. 

in  this   Church,  and  to  seek  the  peace,  purity  and 
prosperity  of  the  Church  ? 

We  do. 

Do  you  desire  to  be  known  as  the Pres- 
byterian Church  of ? 

We  do. 

Here  those  applicants,  if  any,  who  were  received  on  pro- 
fession of  faith,  and  who  had  not  been  baptized  in  infancy, 
shall  come  forward  as  their  names  are  called,  and  shall  re- 
ceive the  sacrament  of  baptism.     (See  p.  79.) 
Then  the  Minister  shall  say  : 

Having  thus  publicly  avowed  your  desire  to  be 
organized  as  a  Church  of  Christ,  and  having  given 
your  assent  to  Presbyterian  order,  and  pledged 
your  obedience  to  Presbyterian  law,  I,  therefore, 
in  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  great 
Head  of  the   Church   (and   by  the  authority  of  the 

Presbytery  of *)  do  pronounce  and  declare 

that  you  are  now  regularly  organized  as  the 

Presbyterian  Church  of . 

In  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.     Amen. 

Here  the  minister  shall  offer  the  prayer  of  organization, 
and  invoke  the  blessing  of  God  upon  the  infant  Church. 

If  now  it  shall  be  determined  to  proceed  at  once  to  the 
election  of  Elders  and  Deacons,  nominations  may  be  for- 
mally made,  and  the  election  proceed  by  ballot,  only  those 
being  allowed  to  vote  who  have  been  constituted  members 
of  the  new  Church. 

Those  elected,  upon  signifying  their  consent  to  serve, 
shall  come  before  the  Church,  and  the  minister  shall  pro- 
ceed to  ordain  them  to  their  respective  offices,  according  to 

♦This  clause  to  be  added  if  the  action  is  under  Presbyterial  direction. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  A  CHURCH 


99 


the  direction  of  the  Form  of  Government  (ch.  xiii.)  and  in 
the  order  of  ordination  for  elders  and  deacons,  given  in  this 
book,  pp.  ioo-iii. 

In  conclusion  the  minister  shall  say : 

It  is  most  fitting  that  this  beginning  of  a  goodly 
and  godly  fellowship  should  be  marked  by  some 
outward  expression.  Therefore,  after  the  bene- 
diction is  pronounced,  let  all  the  members  of  the 
Church  cordially  take  each  other  by  the  hand,  and 
come  forward  to  give  to  each  of  the  newly-elected 
officers  the  right  hand  in  token  of  hearty  reception 
and  regard. 
Here  shall  be  pronounced  the  Apostolic  benediction. 


IOO  ORDIXA  TION  OF  ELDERS. 


FORM  FOR  ORDINATION  OF  ELDERS. 


The  newly-elected  elders  will  come  forward  as  their  names 
are  read  by  the  minister ;  and  when  they  have  taken  their 
places  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  the  minister  shall  say : 

Who  shall  ascend  into  the  hill  of  the  Lord  ? 
And  who  shall  stand  in  his  holy  place  ? 
He  that  hath  clean  hands  and  a  pure  heart ; 
Who  hath  not  lifted  up  his  soul  unto  vanity, 
And  hath  not  sworn  deceitfully. — Ps.  xxiv.  3,  4. 

Dearly  Beloved  : — Haying  been  chosen  to  the 
office  of  Ruling  Elder  by  the  voice  of  this  Church, 
it  is  made  my  duty,  as  the  first  step  in  the  service 
of  ordination,  "  to  set  forth  in  a  concise  manner  the 
warrant  and  nature  of  the  office,  together  with  the 
character  to  be  sustained  and  the  duties  to  be  ful- 
filled." 

0  Ruling  elders  are  properly  the  representatives 
of  the  people,  chosen  by  them  for  the  purpose  of 
exercising  government  and  discipline  in  conjunc- 
tion with  pastors  or  ministers." 

The  warrant  for  the  office  is  the  record  of  the 
Scriptures,  making  it  manifest  that  elders  were 
0  ordained  in  every  church." 

It  is  an  office  of  government,  to  which  is  very 
largely  entrusted  the  order  and  discipline  of  the 
church  of  God.  This  involves  the  reception  of 
church  members,  the  regulation  of  the  worship, 
the  prevention,  so  far  as   possible,  of  the  profana- 


ORDINATION  OF  ELDERS.  ioi 

tion  of  the  sacraments,  the  guardianship  of  doc- 
trine, the  due  dealing  with  those  who  deserve 
censure,  and  the  restoration  of  these,  when  penitent, 
to  the  household  of  faith. 

It  is  an  office  of  spiritual  oversight,  involving 
tender  and  constant  concern  for  every  interest  of 
the  church  :  a  faithful  and  prayerful  taking  heed  to 
all  the  flock,  by  watch  and  care  and  guidance. 

It  is  an  office  of  example — the  elders  being 
charged  to  take  heed  to  themselves,  as  "  examples 
to  the  flock/'  in  all  godly  walk  and  conversation. 

And  now,  dearly  beloved,  in  this  further  service 
of  ordination,  according  to  the  usage  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,*  it  is  appointed  that  you  give 
answer  to  the  following  questions  : 

i.  Do  you  believe  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments  to  be  the  word  of  God,  the  only 
infallible  rule  of  faith  and  practice? 

2.  Do  you  sincerely  receive  and  adopt  the 
confession  of  faith  of  this  church,  as  containing 
the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures ? 

3.  Do  you  approve  of  the  government  and  dis- 
cipline of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  these  United 
States  ? 

4.  Do  you  accept  the  office  of  ruling  elder  in 
this  congregation,  and  promise  faithfully  to  perform 
all  the  duties  thereof? 

5.  Do  you  promise  to  study  the  peace,  unity, 
and  purity  of  the  church? 

*  Form  of  Government,  ch.  13,  sec.  4. 


1 02  ORDINA  TION  OF  ELDERS. 

The  elders-elect  shall  audibly  answer  these  questions,  saying 
in  each  instance  : 

I  do. 

The  minister  shall  now  address  the  members  of  the  Church, 
saying  : 

Do  you,  the  members  of  this  Church,  acknowl- 
edge and  receive  these  brethren  as  ruling  elders, 
and  do  you  promise  to  yield  tliem  all  that  honor, 
encouragernent  and  obedience  in  the  Lord,  to 
which  their  office,  according  to  the  Word  of,. God 
and  the  constitution  of  this  Church,  entitles  them  ? 

The  members  of  the  Church  shall  answer  by  holding  up 
their  right  hands. 

Here  the  elders-elect  shall  devoutly  kneel,  and  the  minister 
shall  set  them  apart  to  the  holy  office,  by  prayer  of  ordina- 
tion {and,  if  desired,  by  the  imposition  of  hands),  saying  : 

O  Lord  our  God,  King  in  Zion  and  Head  of  the 
Church,  we  beseech  thee  that  thou  will  now  set 
apart  inese,  thy  servants,  by  ordainment  of  thy 
Holy  Spirit  to  the  work  to  which  they  have  been 
called  by  the  voice  of  this  people.  Endue,  thern^ 
plenteously  with  heavenly  wisdom.  May  tlrey  be  (X 
\iJLl  ^jytorttMefcjfull  of  the  HolyShost  and  of  faith,  rul- 
ing in  the  fear  of  God  and  always  speaking  the 
things  which  become  sound  doctrmej'  Make  them 
good  examples  to  the  believers  in  word,  in  earner- 
•sefeiea  in  GftaSfy,  in  spirit,  in  faith  and  in  purity. 
Fill  therewith  a  sense  of  both  the  responsibility 
and  the  privilege  of  their  official  stewardship.  Let 
the  arms  of  their  hands  be  made  strong  by  the 
hands  of  the  Mighty  One  of  Jacob.     And  when  the 


ORDINATION  OF  ELDERS.  103 

Chief  Shepherd  shall  appear,  ma)-  they  receive  a 
crown  of  life  that  fadeth  not  away.     Amen. 

the  minister  shall  say  : 
By  the  authority  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and 
according  to  the  law  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
you  have  now  been  ordained  to  the  office  of  Ruling 
Elder ;  and  I  hereby  declare  you  duly  constituted 
and  set  apart  as  Ruling  Elders  of  this  Church. 
May  you  faithfully  keep  the  vows  of  ordination, 
and  discharge  with  loving  zeal  and  fidelity  the 
duties  of  your  sacred  office.     Amen. 

I  now  charge  you,  in  the ^  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus„to  take  heed  to  yourselves  and  to  all  the 
flock\^v*er  the\  which  the  rfoly  Gnost  hath  made 
you  overseers,  to  feed  the  Church  of  God  which 
He  hath  purchased  with  His  own  blood;  and  that 
you  keep  this  commandment  without  spot,  unre- 
bukable,  until  the  appearing  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

*  J  also  charge  you,  de^J£>eopTe  of  God,  to  accept 
these  elders,  whom  you  have  chosen  to  rule  in  this 
Church,  in  the  spirit  of  affectionate  obedience  and 
trust.  Esteem  them  very  highly  in  love  for  their 
work's  sake.  And  bear  tliernvon  your  hearts  in 
daily  prayer  to  God  that  they  may  be  abundant  in 
godly  counsel,  and  fruitful  in  heavenly  consola 
tions,  and  tenderly  faithful  in  the  exercise  of  Chris- 
tian discipline. 

Let  us  pray. 

O  Lord  God,  most  merciful  and  gracious,  we 
thank  thee  for  the  new  relationship  that  has  been 
here  established.     Make  it  a  blessing  and  a  joy  to 


1 04  OR  DIN  A  TION  OF  ELDERS. 

elders  and  people  forevermore.  Grant  that  these 
office-bearers  may  rule  well,  and  with  befitting  sense 
of  their  high  ordainment  as  called  of  God  to  this 
stewardship.  And  may  the  people  count  them 
worthy  of  double  honor,  and  willingly  submit 
themselves  unto  the  godly  admonition  of  these, 
thy  servants,  walking  with  them  in  all  obedience 
and  charity.     Amen. 

And  now  may  the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth 
all  understanding,  keep  your  hearts  and  minds 
through  Christ  Jesus.  And  the  grace  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  and  the  love  of  God,  and  the  commu- 
nion of  the  Holy  Ghost  be  with  you  all.     Amen. 

Where  there  is  an  existing  Session,  it  is  proper  that  the 
members  of  that  body,  at  the  close  of  the  service,  a?id  i?i 
the  face  of  the  congregation,  take  the  newly-ordained  elder 
by  the  hatid,  saying  in  words  to  this  purpose. — "  W*>-  give 
you  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  to  take  part  of  this  office 
with  us." 


RE-INSTALLA  TION  OF  ELDERS.         105 


FORM  OF   REINSTALLATION  OF  ELDERS. 


According  to  the  decisions  of  the  General  Assembly,  when 
a  ruling  elder  has  terminated  his  connection  with  the 
Session  by  removal  to  another  Church,  or  by  resignation, 
or  when  he  is  re-elected  tinder  the  rotary  system,  he  is  to 
be  reinstalled  before  he  can  regularly  exercise  the  duties 
of  his  office  .—{See  Digest,  pp.  347,  546,  547.) 

The  elders  to  be  installed  will  come  forward  as  their  names 
are  called. 

Dearly  Beloved  : — Having  heretofore  been  sol- 
emnly ordained  to  the  office  of  ruling  elder,  you  do 
now  present  yourselves  to  be  reinstalled,  in  response 
to  the  voice  of  this  church,  calling  you  once  more 
to  the  discharge  of  the  active  duties  of  said  office. 

It  is  an  office  of  divine  appointment,  and  to  it, 
very  largely,  is  entrusted  the  care  of  the  Church  of 
God.  Beloved  brethren,  let  me  urge  you  to  carry 
in  your  memories  and  hearts  the  solemn  charge  of 
the  Apostle,  "  Take  heed  to  yourselves  and  to  all 
the  flock  over  the  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made 
you  overseers,  to  feed  the  Church  of  God,  which 
he  hath  purchased  with  his  own  blood."  And  may 
you  keep  this  commandment  without  spot,  un- 
rebukable,  until  the  appearing  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

According  to  the  usage  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,*  you  will  now  give  answer  to  the  follow- 
ing questions  : 

*  See  Presbyterian  Digest,  p.  348. 


1 06        RE-INSTALLA  TION  OF  ELDERS. 

Do  you  sincerely  receive  and  adopt  the  Confes- 
sion of  Faith  of  this  church  as  containing  the  sys- 
tem of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  ? 

Do  you  accept  the  office  of  ruling  elder  in  this 
congregation  and  promise  faithfully  to  perform  all 
the  duties  thereof? 

Do  you  promise  to  study  the  peace,  unity  and 
purity  of  the  Church  ? 

Each  elder-elect  shall  audibly  afiwer  these  questions,  saying 
in  each  instance  : 

I  do. 

The  minister  shall  now  address  the  members  of  the  Church, 

saying : 

Do  you,  the  members  of  this  Church,  receive 
these  brethren  as  ruling  elders,  and  do  you  promise 
to  yield  them  all  that  honor,  encouragement  and 
obedience  in  the  Lord,  to  which  their  office,  ac- 
cording to  the  Word  of  God  and  constitution  of 
this  Church,  entitles  them  ? 

The  members  of  the  Church  shall  answer  by  holding  up 

their  right  hands. 
Then  the  Minister  shall  say: 

I  hereby  declare  you  to  be  reinstalled  in  the 
office  of  ruling  elder,  and  now  appointed  to  the 
active  duties  of  that  office  in  this  particular  Church. 
May  you  discharge  these  sacred  duties  with  dis- 
criminating judgment  and  unflagging  devotion. 

Let  us  pray. 

O  Lord  God,  our  heavenly  Father,  grant  now 
thy  special  blessing  to  these  brethren  who  here 
again   have   assumed    the   obligations    of    official 


RE-INSTALLA  TION  OF  ELDERS. 


°7 


stewardship  in  thy  Church.  We  thank  thee  for 
their  past  fidelity.  And  now  that  this  people  have 
been  moved  to  put  them  again  in  trust  of  this  holy 
office,  may  they  study  more  than  ever  to  show 
themselves  approved  unto  God,  workmen  that  need 
not  be  ashamed.  Bind  elders  and  people  together 
in  loving  and  reverent  fellowship.  And  by  the 
power  of  thy  Holy  Spirit,  through  this  official 
trust,  make  this  Church  more  and  more  fruitful  in 
every  good  work  to  the  glory  of  thy  name  in 
Christ  Jesus.     Amen. 


IOS  ORDINA  HON  OF  DEACONS. 


FORM  OF  ORDINATION  OF  DEACONS. 


The  newly-elected  deacons  will  come  forward  as  their  names 
are  read  by  the  minister,  and  when  they  have  taken  their 
places  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  the  minister  shall  say : 

In  the  inspired  history  of  the  early  Church  it  is 
recorded  that  when  the  number  of  the  disciples 
was  multiplying,  there  arose  a  murmuring  of  the 
Grecian  Jews  against  the  Hebrews,  because  their 
widows  were  neglected  in  the  daily  ministration. 
And  the  twelve  called  the  multitude  of  the  disci- 
ples unto  them,  and  said,  It  is  not  fit  that  we 
should  forsake  the  word  of  God,  and  serve  tables. 
Look  ye  out  therefore,  brethren,  from  among  you, 
seven  men  of  good  report,  full  of  the  Spirit  and  of 
wisdom,  whom  we  may  appoint  over  this  business. 
But  we  will  continue  steadfastly  in  prayer,  and  in 
the  ministry  of  the  word.  And  the  saying  pleased 
the  whole  multitude :  and  they  chose  Stephen,  a 
man  full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
Philip,  and  Prochorus,  and  Nicanor,  and  Timon, 
and  Parmenas,  and  Nicolas  a  proselyte  of  Antioch: 
whom  they  set  before  the  apostles :  and  when  they 
had  prayed,  they  laid  their  hands  on  them. 

This  is  our  Scriptural  warrant  for  setting  men 
apart  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon  in  Christ's  Church. 

Dearly  beloved  brethren,  as  you  have  been 
chosen  to  this  office  by  the  members  of  this  par- 
ticular Church,  in   due  form   assembled  and  with 


ORDINATION  OF  ni'lACONS. 


109 


prayer  for  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  you 
will  now,  according  to  the  usage  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,*  give  answer  to  the  following  ques- 
tions : 

1.  "  Do  you  believe  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testaments  to  be  the  word  of  God,  the 
only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  practice  ? 

2.  "  Do  you  sincerely  receive  and  adopt  the 
confession  of  faith  of  this  church,  as  containing 
the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures ? 

3.  "  Do  you  approve  of  the  government  and 
discipline  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  these 
United  States  ? 

4.  u  Do  you  accept  the  office  of  deacon  in  this 
congregation,  and  promise  faithfully  to  perform  all 
the  duties  thereof? 

5.  "  Do  you  promise  to  study  the  peace,  unity, 
and  purity  of  the  church  ?  " 

The  deacons-elect  shall  audibly  answer  these  questions,  say- 
ing in  each  instance : 

I  do. 

The  minister  shall  now  address  the  members  of  the 
Ch  u  rch ,  saying-  : 

Do  you,  the  members  of  this  church,  acknowl- 
edge and  receive  these  brethren  as  deacons,  and  do 
you  promise  to  yield  them  all  that  honor,  encour- 
agement and  co-operation  in  the  Lord,  to  which 
their  office,  according  to  the  word  of  God  and  the 
constitution  of  this  church,  entitles  them. 

*  Form  of  Government,  Ch.  13,  Sec.  4. 


HO  OR  DIN  A  TION  OF  DEA  CONS. 

The  members  of  the  Church  shall  answer  by  holding  up 
their  right  hands. 

Here  the  Deaco?is-elect  shall  devoutly  k?ieel,  a?id  the  min- 
ister shall  set  them  apart  by  prayer  of  ordination  {and,  if 
desired,  by  the  laying  on  of  hands),  saying  ; 

O  thou  blessed  Lord  Jesus,  anointed  to  preach 
good  tidings  to  the  poor,  and  to  set  at  liberty  them 
that  are  bruised,  set  apart  these  thy  servants,  we 
beseech  thee,  by  ordainment  of  thy  Holy  Spirit,  to 
this  same  ministry  of  love  and  blessing  to  the  poor 
of  thy  flock.  Fill  their  hearts  with  something  of 
that  spirit  by  which  thou  wast  prompted  in  thine 
infinite  compassion  to  leave  thy  riches  and  become 
poor,  that  we,  through  thy  poverty,  might  be  rich. 
Give  to  these  thy  servants  a  prompt  and  hearty 
willingness  to  enter  upon  holy,  self-denying  service 
in  behalf  of  those  who  suffer  and  are  in  want. 
And  may  they  be  called  at  last  to  the  reward  of 
those  who  shall  be  told  by  thee,  "  Inasmuch  as  ye 
ministered  unto  one  of  the  least  of  my  brethren, 
ye  ministered  unto  me."  This  we  ask  in  thy  name 
and  for  thy  sake,  O  thou  gracious  and  condescend- 
ing Lord,  our  Saviour.     Amen. 

By  the  authority  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
according  to  the  law  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
you  have  now  been  ordained  to  the  office  of  Dea- 
con ;  and  I  hereby  declare  you  duly  constituted 
and  set  apart  as  Deacons  of  this  church.  May 
you  faithfully  keep  the  vows  of  ordination  and  dis- 
charge, with  wise  discretion  and  sympathetic  fidel- 
ity, the  duties  of  your  sacred  office.     Amen. 


OR  DIN  A  TION  OF  DEACONS.  1 1 1 

And  now  I  charge  you,  brethren,  ordained  to  be 
Deacons,  study  the  Word  to  sec  what  manner  of 
men  you  ought  to  be.  For  the  beloved  apostle, 
writing  by  inspiration  of  God,  declares  that  Dea- 
cons must  be  grave,  not  double-tongued,  blameless, 
ruling  their  children  and  their  own  houses  well, 
not  greedy  of  filthy  lucre,  holding  the  mystery  of 
the  faith  in  a  pure  conscience.  For  they  that  have 
served  well  as  Deacons  gain  to  themselves  a  good 
standing,  and  great  boldness  in  the  faith  which  is 
in  Christ  Jesus. 

And  I  also  charge  you,  dear  people  of  God,  into 
whose  service  and  ministry  of  love  these  brethren 
have  entered,  that  you  baptize  this  ministry  to  the 
poor  with  your  daily  prayers,  that  you  supply  it 
constantly  and  cheerfully  with  your  liberal  gifts, 
that  you  accept  the  offices  of  these  brethren  when 
needed  with  hearty  appreciation  and  gratitude  as 
from  Christ  himself.  And  may  the  blessing  of 
God  in  abundant  measure  be  vouchsafed  to  officers 
and  people,  through  Jesus  Christ.     Amen. 


112  LA  YING  OF  CORNER-STONE. 


FORM  FOR  LAYING  OF  A  CORNER-STONE. 


Frequently  some  public  service  is  desired  to  mark  the  comple- 
tion of  the  foundation  of  ths  house  of  God,  and  the  laying 
of  the  corner-stone,  upon  which  the  superstructure  is  to 
be  builded.  Hence  the  submission  of  the  following  order 
of  service. 

The  minister  shall  say  : 

We  are  met  this  day  to  lay  the  corner-stone  of 
this  church  building.  We  thus  mark  the  first  stage 
in  the  progress  of  material  construction.  When  we 
have  carried  the  head-stone  to  its  place  with  shout- 
ings of  Grace,  grace  unto  it,  we  shall  solemnly 
dedicate  the  completer!  temple  to  the  service  of  Al- 
mighty God.  The  Church  of  the  living  God  has 
but  one  true  corner-stone — Jesus  Christ — tried, 
precious  and  true. 

Let  7i s  invoke  the  divi?ie  blessing. 

O  thou,  Lord  God  Almighty,  who  didst  direct 
the  foundations  of  the  holy  temple  to  be  laid  by  thy 
people  Israel,  and  who  didst  inspire  thy  people  with 
joy,  so  that  they  shouted  with  a  great  shout  when 
they  praised  the  Lord,  because  the  foundation  of 
the  house  of  the  Lord  was  laid,  bow  thy  heavens, 
we  beseech  thee,  and  vouchsafe  thy  presence  and 
thy  blessing,  that  we,  too,  may  be  stirred  with  de- 
vout thanksgiving  and  joy  because  the  foundation 
of  this  house  of  the  Lord  is  laid.  And  may  this 
service  of  prayer  and  praise,  in  connection  with  the 


LA  YING  OF  CORNER-STONE.  i  r  3 

laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  this  new  temple  of 
worship,  be  acceptable  in  thy  sight,  O  Lord,  our 
strength  and  our  Redeemer  !     Amen. 

Here  shall  be  sung  by  the  entire  people : 

Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow  ; 
Praise  him,  all  creatures  here  below  ; 
Praise  him  above,  ye  heavenly  host ; 
Praise  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 

Here  shall  be  read  by  the  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
or  by  any  one  appointed  for  the  purpose,  a  brief  historical 
record  of  the  Church. 

Then  the  minister  shall  read  the  following  Scripture  : 

And  when  the  builders  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
temple  of  the  Lord,  they  set  the  priests  in  their  ap- 
parel with  trumpets,  and  the  Levites  the  sons  of 
Asaph  with  cymbals,  to  praise  the  Lord,  after  the 
order  of  David  king  of  Israel.  And  they  sang  one 
to  another  in  praising  and  giving  thanks  unto  the 
Lord,  saying,  For  he  is  good,  for  his  mercy  cn- 
dureth  for  ever  toward  Israel.  And  all  the  people 
shouted  with  a  great  shout,  when  they  praised  the 
Lord,  because  the  foundation  of  the  house  of  the 
Lord  was  laid.  But  many  of  the  priests  and  Le- 
vites and  heads  of  fathers'  houses,  the  old  men  that 
had  seen  the  first  house  when  the  foundation  of  this 
house  was  laid  before  their  eyes,  wept  with  a  loud 
voice ;  and  many  shouted  aloud  for  joy :  so  that 
the  people  could  not  discern  the  noise  of  the  shout 
of  joy  from  the  noise  of  the  weeping  of  the  people: 
for  the  people  shouted  with  a  loud  shout,  and  the 
noise  was  heard  afar  off. — Ezra  iii.  10-13. 

Thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  Behold,  I   lay  in  Zion 
8 


114  LAYING  OF  CORNER-STONE. 

for  a  foundation  a  stone,  a  tried   stone,  a  precious 
corner --stone \  of  sure  foundation. — Isa.  xxviii.  16. 

Unto  whom  coming,  a  living  stone,  rejected  in- 
deed of  men,  but  with  God  elect,  precious,  ye 
also,  as  living  stones,  are  built  up  a  spiritual  house, 
to  be  a  holy  priesthood,  to  offer  up  spiritual  sacri- 
fices, acceptable  to  God  through  Jesus  Christ. 

For  you  therefore  which  believe  is  the  precious- 
ness  :  but  for    such  as  disbelieve, 
The  stone  which  the  builders  rejected, 
The  same  was  made  the  head  of  the  corner ; 

and, 
A  stone  of  stumbling,  and  a  rock  of  offence. —  I  Pet. 
ii.  4-5,  7-S. 

Here  shall  follow  a  brief  address,  in  which  may  be  set 
forth  the  significance  of  the  service,  as  a  declaration  of  faith 
in  Jesus  Christ,  as  the  one  only  foundation  of  the  Church  ; 
unto  whom,  coming,  a  living  stone,  all  believing  souls,  as 
living  stones,  are  built  up  a  spiritual  house,  and  in  whom  all 
the  building,  fitly  framed  together,  groweth  unto  an  holy 
temple  in  the  L,ord. 

Here  may  be  sung  the  following,  or  some  other  hymn  : 

An  earthly  temple  here  we  raise, 
Lord  God,  our  Saviour  !  to  thy  praise  ; 
Oh,  make  thy  gracious  presence  known 
While  now  we  lay  its  corner-stone. 

Within  the  house  thy  servants  rear 
Deign  by  thy  Spirit  to  appear  ; 
On  all  its  walls  salvation  write, 
From  corner-stone  to  topmost  height. 

And  when  this  temple,  "made  with  hands," 
Upon  its  firm  foundation  stands, 


LAYING  OF  CORNERSTONE.  1 15 

Oh,  may  we  all  with  loving  heart 
In  nobler  building  bear  a  part. 

Where  every  polished  stone  shall  be 
A  human  soul  won  back  to  thee ; 
All  resting  upon  Christ  alone, 
The  chief  and  precious  Corner-stone. 

So  when  our  toil  is  o'er  at  last, 
All  labor  in  both  temples  passed, 
Oh,  may  it  theu  by  works  be  shown 
That  faith  hath  laid  this  corner-stone. 

All  things  being  now  in  readiness  for  the  laying  of  the 
corner-stone,  the  minister  shall  distinctly  announce  the  arti- 
cles which  have  been  placed  in  the  box  to  be  deposited  in 
the  stone. 

These  contents  vary,  but  they  commonly  include  a  copy  of 
the  Bible,  a  historical  record  of  the  church  and  list  of  offi- 
cers, a  manual  of  the  church,  and  some  religious  and 
secular  papers. 

Here  the  box  shall  be  deposited,  and  the  stone  formally 
put  in  place,  and  the  minister  shall  declare  it  duly  laid. 

Then  shall  be  offered  a  prayer  of  dedication  and  thanks- 
giving. 

Here  shall  be  sung  : 

Holy,  holy,  holy,  Lord  God  Almighty  ! 

All  thy  works  shall  praise  thy  name,  in  earth  and  sky  and 
sea ; 
Holy,  holy,  holy,  merciful  and  mighty — 

God  in  three  persons,  blessed  Trinity. 

The  bc?iediction. 


1 1 6  DEDICA  TION  OF  A  CHURCH. 


FORM  FOR  DEDICATION  OF  A  CHURCH. 


After  the  sermon  the  order  of  dedicatory  service  may  be  as 
follows : 

THE    "TB   DKUM." 

(To  be  read  unitedly  by  minister  and  people  standing.) 

We  praise  Thee,  O  God  ;  we  acknowledge  Thee 
to  be  the  Lord.  All  the  Earth  doth  worship  Thee, 
the  Father  everlasting.  To  Thee  all  angels  cry- 
aloud; — the  Heavens,  and  all  the  powers  there- 
in. To  Thee  Cherubim  and  Seraphim  continually 
do  cry;—"  Holy!  Holy!  Holy!  Lord  God  of  Sa- 
baoth ;  Heaven  and  Earth  are  full  of  the  majesty 
of  Thy  glory !" 

The  glorious  company  of  the  Apostles  praise 
Thee.  The  goodly  fellowship  of  the  Prophets 
praise  Thee.  The  noble  army  of  Martyrs  praise 
Thee.  The  Holy  Church  throughout  all  the 
world  doth  acknowledge  Thee ; — the  Father  of 
an  infinite  majesty; — Thine  adorable,  true  and  only 
Son  ; — also  the  Holy  Ghost,  The  Comforter. 

Thou  art  the  King  of  Glory,  O  Christ  ; — Thou 
art  the  Everlasting  Son  of  the  Father.  When 
Thou  tookest  upon  Thee  to  deliver  man,  Thou 
didst  humble  Thyself  to  be  born  of  a  Virgin. 
When  Thou  hadst  overcome  the  sharpness  of 
death,  Thou  didst  open  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven 
to  all  believers.     Thou  sittest  at  the  right  hand  of 


DEDICA  TION  OF  A  CHURCH.  117 

God,  in  the  glory  of  the  Father.  We  believe  that 
Thou  shalt  come  to  be  our  Judge.  We  therefore 
pray  Thee,  help  Thy  servants,  whom  Thou  hast 
redeemed  with  Thy  precious  blood  ;  make  them  to 
be  numbered  with  Thy  saints  in  glory  everlasting. 

O  Lord,  save  Thy  people,  and  bless  Thine  heri- 
tage ;  govern  them  and  lift  them  up  forever  !  Day 
by  day  we  magnify  Thee  ;  and  we  worship  Thy 
name  ever,  world  without  end. 

Vouchsafe,  O  Lord,  to  keep  us  this  day  without 
sin.  O  Lord,  have  mercy  upon  us,  have  mercy 
upon  us.  O  Lord,  let  Thy  mercy  be  upon  us,  as 
our  trust  is  in  Thee.  O  Lord,  in  Thee  have  I 
trusted;  let  me  never  be  confounded. 

the  doxology. 

(To  be  sung  by  the  people  still  standing.) 

Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow; 
Praise  Him  all  creatures  here  below; 
Praise  Him  above,  ye  heavenly  host: 
Praise  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 

the  lord's  prayer. 
Our   Father,  which    art   in   Heaven,  Hallowed  be 

Thy  name. 
Thy  kingdom  come.     Thy  will  be  done  in  Earth, 

as  it  is  in  Heaven. 
Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread. 
And   forgive    us    our   debts,   as    we    forgive    our 

debtors. 
And  lead   us   not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us 

from  Evil. 


1 1 8  DEDICA  TION  OF  A  CHURCH. 

For  Thine  is   the   Kingdom,  and  the   Power,  and 
the  Glory,  forever.     Amen. 

The  congregatioji  being  seated,  the  minister  will  now  read 
the  following  Scripture : 

And  Solomon  stood  before  the  altar  of  the  Lord 
in  the  presence  of  all  the  congregation  of  Israel, 
and  spread  forth  his  hands  toward  heaven  :  and  he 
said,  O  Lord,  the  God  of  Israel,  there  is  no  God 
like  thee,  in  heaven  above,  or  on  earth  beneath ; 
who  keepest  covenant  and  mercy  with  thy  servants, 
that  walk  before  thee  with  all  their  heart :  who 
hast  kept  with  thy  servant  David  my  father  that 
which  thou  didst  promise  him :  yea,  thou  spakest 
with  thy  mouth,  and  hast  fulfilled  it  with  thine 
hand,  as  it  is  this  day.  Now  therefore,  O  Lord, 
the  God  of  Israel,  keep  with  thy  servant  David  my 
father  that  which  thou  hast  promised  him,  saying, 
There  shall  not  fail  thee  a  man  in  my  sight  to  sit 
on  the  throne  of  Israel ;  if  only  thy  children  take 
heed  to  their  way,  to  walk  before  me  as  thou  hast 
walked  before  me.  Now  therefore,  O  God  of  Is- 
rael, let  thy  word,  I  pray  thee,  be  verified,  which 
thou  spakest  unto  thy  servant  David  my  father. 
But  will  God  in  very  deed  dwell  on  the  earth  ? 
behold,  heaven  and  the  heaven  of  heavens  cannot 
contain  thee  ;  how  much  less  this  house  that  I  have 
builded!  Yet  have  thou  respect  unto  the  prayer 
of  thy  servant,  and  to  his  supplication,  O  Lord  my 
God,  to  hearken  unto  the  cry  and  to  the  prayer 
which  thy  servant  prayeth  before  thee  this  day  : 
that  thine  eyes  may  be  open  toward  this  house 
night  and  day,  even  toward  the  place  whereof  thou 


DEDICA  riON  OF  A  CHURCH.  119 

hast  said,  My  name  shall  be  there :  to  hearken 
unto  the  prayer  which  thy  servant  shall  pray 
toward  this  place.  And  hearken  thou  to  the  sup- 
plication of  thy  servant,  and  of  thy  people  Israel, 
when  they  shall  pray  toward  this  place  :  yea,  hear 
thou  in  heaven  thy  dwelling  place  :  and  when  thou 
hearest,  forgive. —  1  Kings  viii.  22-30. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Solomon  had  finished 
the  building  of  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  the 
king's  house,  and  all  Solomon's  desire  which  he 
was  pleased  to  do,  that  the  Lord  appeared  to  Solo- 
mon the  second  time,  as  he  had  appeared  unto  him 
at  Gibeon.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  I  have 
heard  thy  prayer  and  thy  supplication,  that  thou 
hast  made  before  me:  I  have  hallowed  this  house, 
which  thou  hast  built,  to  put  my  name  there  for 
ever  ;  and  mine  eyes  and  mine  heart  shall  be  there 
perpetually. — 1  Kings  ix.  1-3. 

Here  the  keys  of  the  house  shall  be  formally  transferred  by 
the  Chairman  of  the  Building  Committee  to  the  legally 
constituted  custodians  of  the  property,  the  Chairman  say- 
ing : 

I   hereby  transfer  to  you,  as   Representative  of 
the  Board  of  Trust,  the  keys  of  this  now  completed 
building. 
To  which  the  response  shall  be : 

I  accept  these  keys  in  behalf  of  the  legally  con- 
stituted custodians  of  this  building. 

thk  dedication. 
(To  be  said  responsively,  the  people  standing.) 
Minister. — Blessing  and  glory  and  wisdom  and 


1 20  DEDICA  TION  OF  A  CHURCH. 

thanksgiving  and  honor  and  power  and  might  be 
unto  our  God  for  ever  and  ever. 

People. — Amen. 

Minister. — Behold,  the  tabernacle  of  God  is  with 
men  and  He  shall  dwell  with  them. 

People. — And  they  shall  be  His  people,  and  God 
Himself  shall  be  with  them,  and  be  their  God. 

Minister. — Lord,  who  shall  sojourn  in  thy  taber- 
nacle ? 

People. — Who  shall  dwell  in  thy  holy  hill  ? 

Minister. — He  that  walketh  uprightly  and  work- 
eth  righteousness. 

People. — And  speaketh  truth  in  his  heart. 

Minister. — Who  shall  ascend  into  the  hill  of  the 
Lord? 

People. — And  who  shall  stand  in  the  holy  place  ? 

Minister. — He  that  hath  clean  hands  and  a  pure 
heart. 

People. — Who  hath  not  lifted   up  his  soul  unto 
vanity, 
And  hath  not  sworn  deceitfully. 

Minister. — He  shall  receive  a  blessing  from  the 
Lord. 

People.— And  righteousness  from  the  God  of  his 
salvation. 

Minister. — Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates;  yea, 
lift  them  up,  ye  everlasting  doors  ; 

People. — And  the  King  of  Glory  shall  come  in. 

Minister. — Who  is  this  King  of  Glory? 

People. — The  Lord  of  hosts,  He  is  the  King  oi 
Glory. 

Minister. — But  will  God   in  very  deed  dwell   on 


DEDICA  TION  OF  A  CHURL  11.  i  2  I 

the  earth  ?  behold,  heaven  and  the  heaven  of 
heavens  cannot  contain  thee ;  how  much  less  this 
house  which  we  have  builded. 

People. — Yet  have  respect,  O  Lord,  unto  the 
prayer  which  thy  servants  pray  before  thee  this 
day,  that  thine  eyes  may  be  open  towards  this  house 
night  and  day. 

Minister. — Let  the  beauty  of  the  Lord,  our  God, 
be  upon  us. 

People. — And  establish  thou  the  work  of  our 
hands  upon  us ;  yea,  the  work  of  our  hands,  estab- 
lish thou  it. 

Minister  and  People  unitedly. — This  house, 
which  we  have  bp:en  permitted  to  build 
through  the  gracious  favor  of  divine  provi- 
dence, we  do  now  solemnly  dedicate  to  the 
worship  and  service  of  almighty  god,  the 
Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost.    Amen. 

Here  shall  be  sung  this  word  of  praise  : 
Holy,  holy,  holy  !  Lord  God  almighty  ! 

All  thy  works  shall  praise  thy  name  iu  earth  and  sky  and 
sea : 
Holy,  holy,  holy  !  merciful  and  mighty, 

God  in  three  persons,  blessed  Trinity. 

DEDICATORY   PRAYER. 

Holy,  holy,  holy,  Lord  God  Almighty,  which 
art  and  wast  and  art  to  come,  Thou  art  the  Father  of 
lights  in  whom  is  no  variableness,  neither  shadow 
of  turning.  Of  old  thou  hast  laid  the  foundations 
of  the  earth,  and  the  heavens  are  the  work  of  thy 
hands.     Thou    hast   prepared   thy   throne   in   the 


122  DEDICA  HON  OF  A  CHURCH. 

heavens,  and  it  is  a  throne  of  glory  high  and  lifted 
up,  and  before  thee  the  seraphim  cover  their  faces. 

Yet  blessed  be  thy  holy  name,  O  thou  God  of 
infinite  majesty,  though  the  heaven  of  heavens  can- 
not contain  thee,  thou  hast  condescended  to  dwell 
with  the  children  of  men.  Thy  way,  O  God,  is  in 
the  sanctuary.  Of  old  thou  didst  command  a 
house  to  be  built  for  thy  worship.  And  when  it 
was  finished  thou  didst  say  to  thy  servant,  I  have 
chosen  and  sanctified  this  house  that  my  name 
may  be  there  forever,  and  mine  eyes  and  mine 
heart  may  be  there  perpetually.  And  thou  didst 
make  it  the  place  of  thy  throne  and  the  place  of 
the  soles  of  thy  feet,  and  thy  council  chamber. 
So  that  strength  and  beauty  were  in  thy  sanctuary. 
And  thy  people  counted  a  day  in  thy  courts  better 
than  a  thousand,  and  were  glad  when  they  said, 
Let  us  go  into  the  house  of  the  Lord.  For  the 
Lord  is  in  his  holy  temple :  let  all  the  earth  keep 
silence  before  him. 

We  rejoice,  O  God,  that  thou  dost  still  write 
salvation  upon  the  walls  and  praise  upon  the  gates 
of  the  temples  thy  people  build  for  thee.  Though 
we  no  longer  have  the  visible  Shekinah,  thou  dost 
vouchsafe  the  invisible  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Though  we  no  longer  have  the  audible  voice  and 
the  mystic  sign  of  Urim  and  Thummim,  yet  we 
possess  thy  holy  oracles  and  sure  word  of  prophecy. 
We  know  that  those  who  truly  seek  thee  may  find 
thee  anywhere,  in  any  wilderness  or  desert  place. 
But  thou  hast  commanded  the  assembling  of  our- 
selves together  for  worship.     Thou  hast  ordained 


DEDICATION  OF  A  CHURCH. 


"3 


that  by  the  foolishness  of  preaching  men  should 
be  saved.  And  thou  hast  given  some  very  precious 
promises  to  them  that  are  met  together  in  thy 
name. 

And  so  we  bring  thee  this  place  of  Assembly, 
this  house  that  we  have  builded.  We  solemnly 
dedicate  it  to  thee.  We  set  it  apart  for  thy  wor- 
ship— for  the  offering  of  prayer  and  thanksgiving; 
for  the  sacrifice  of  broken  and  contrite  hearts ;  for 
the  reading  and  hearing  of  thy  holy  Word;  for  the 
unfolding  of  the  heavenly  oracles;  and  for  the  ad- 
ministration of  thine  appointed  sacraments.  Bow 
thy  heavens,  O  Lord,  and  come  down,  and  make 
this  house  now  and  forever  thy  dwelling-place. 
Fill  it  with  the  glory  of  thy  presence.  Upon  wall 
and  window,  upon  lintel  and  door-post,  upon  pulpit 
and  pew  and  organ,  may  there  be  written,  Holiness 
to  the  Lord. 

We  beseech  thee,  O  thou  most  merciful  God, 
that  thou  wilt  keep  covenant  with  thy  people  as 
they  assemble  here  for  worship.  Satisfy  the  souls 
that  come  hither  hungering  and  thirsting  after 
righteousness.  Meet  here  the  souls  that  would  see 
Jesus.  Welcome  here  the  prodigals  that  have  wan- 
dered in  a  dry  and  thirsty  land  where  no  water  is,  and 
that  would  come  back  to  the  Father's  house,  where 
there  is  bread  enough  and  to  spare.  Here  throw 
thy  shields  over  those  that  are  assaulted  of  Satan, 
and  compass  them  about  with  songs  of  deliverance. 
Here  spread  thy  table  with  the  choicest  bounties  of 
thy  grace — yea,  with  the  bread  and  wine  of  the 
Kingdom  of  God — so  that  the  hungry  may  be  filled 


1 24  DEDICA  TION  OF  A  CHURCH. 

with  good  things.  Lord,  teach  transgressors  thy 
ways,  in  this  sanctuary,  and  let  sinners  be  con- 
verted unto  thee.  Let  the  Word  of  God  prevail 
to  the  pulling  down  of  strongholds  and  the  casting 
down  imaginations  and  every  high  thing  that  is  ex- 
alted against  the  knowledge  of  God.  Open  thou 
our  eyes  that  we  may  behold  wondrous  things  out 
of  thy  law.  Order  our  steps  in  thy  word.  Write 
thy  law  in  our  hearts. 

Give  especially  to  thy  servants  who  may  here 
hold  forth  the  Word  of  life,  so  to  cry  after  knowl- 
edge and  to  lift  up  their  voice  for  understanding,  to 
seek  for  it  as  silver  and  to  search  for  it  as  for  hid 
treasure,  that  they  may  understand  the  fear  of  the 
Lord  and  find  the  knowledge  of  God.  Make  them 
mighty  in  the  Scriptures,  that  they  may  be  perfect, 
thoroughly  furnished  unto  all  good  works.  And 
may  multitudes  pass  from  the  worship  and  com- 
munion of  this  earthly  house  to  the  heavenly  fel- 
lowship of  the  house  not  made  with  hands,  the 
City  without  foundation,  whose  builder  and  maker 
is  God. 

And  unto  the  King  eternal,  incorruptible,  invisi- 
ble, the  only  God,  be  honor  and  glory,  for  ever  and 
ever.     Amen. 


POETICAL  SELECTIONS. 


POETICAL  SELECTIONS. 


"5 


Often  it  happens  that  some  rare  bit  of  sons;  or  sacred  lyric, 
by  one  of  God's  singers,  Jits  into  the  need  of  an  hour  of  sick- 
ness or  sorrow,  as  if  dropped  out  of  heaven.  Readily  to 
command  these  deep  and  sweet  thoughts  of  God  that  have 
been  set  in  verse,  is  not  always  possible.  That  a  minister  of 
consolation  may  now  and  then  be  convenienced  by  finding  in 
this  little  manual  a  few  of  these  "  voices  of  the  earth,"  is 
the  onlv  reason  why  they  are  here. 

LOOKING    HEAVENWARD. 

Beyond  the  smiling  and  the  weeping, 

I  shall  be  soon  ; 
Beyond  the  waking  and  the  sleeping, 
Beyond  the  sowing  and  the  reaping 
I  shall  be  soon. 
Love,  rest  and  home  ! 

Sweet  home  ! 
Lord,  tarry  not,  but  come. 

H.  Bonar. 
The  land  beyond  the  sea  ! 
Sometimes  across  the  strait, 
Like  a  drawbridge  to  a  castle-gate, 
The  slanting  sunbeams  lie,  and  seem  to  wait 
For  us  to  pass  to  thee, 
Calm  land  beyond  the  sea. 

F.  IV.  Fader. 
One  sweetly  solemn  thought 
Comes  to  me  o'er  and  o'er; 
I'm  nearer  home  to  day 

Than  I  ever  have  been  before. 


126  POETICAL  SELECTIONS, 

Nearer  the  bound  of  life, 
Where  we  lay  our  burdens  down  ; 

Nearer  leaving  the  cross — 
Nearer  wearing  the  crown. 

But  l}Ting  darkly  between, 
Winding  down  through  the  night, 

Is  the  dim  and  unknown  stream 
That  leads,  at  last,  to  the  light. 

Saviour,  perfect  my  trust, 

Strengthen  the  might  of  my  faith  ; 

Let  me  feel  as  I  would  when  I  stand 
On  the  rock  of  the  shore  of  death,— 

Feel  as  I  would  when  my  feet 
Are  slipping  over  the  brink  ; 

For  it  may  be  I'm  nearer  home- 
Nearer  now  than  I  think. 

Miss  P.  Cary, 

How  pleasant  are  thy  paths,  O  Death  ! 

Like  the  bright  slanting  west, 
Thou  leadest  down  into  the  glow, 
Where  all  those  heaven-bound  sunsets  go 

Ever  from  toil  to  rest. 

How  pleasant  are  thy  paths,  O  Death  ! 

From  sin  to  pleasing  God  ; 
For  the  pardoned  in  thy  land  are  bright 
As  innocence  in  robe  of  white, 

And  walk  on  the  same  road. 

How  pleasant  are  thy  paths,  O  Death  ! 

Straight  to  our  Father's  home  ; 
All  loss  were  gain  that  gained  us  this, 
The  sight  of  God—that  single  bliss 

Of  the  grand  world  to  come. 

F  W.  Fader. 


POETICAL  SELECTIONS. 


127 


Jerusalem  the  golden, 

With  milk  and  honey  blest ! 
Beneath  thy  contemplation 

Sink  heart  and  voice  oppressed  ; 
I  know  not,  Oh  !  I  know  not 

What  social  joys  are  there — 
What  radiancy  of  glory — 

What  light  beyond  compare. 

Tr.  J.  M.  Neale. 


SUBMISSION   IN   TRIAL. 

My  Jesus,  as  thou  wilt ! 

Oh  !  may  thy  will  be  mine  ; 
Into  thy  hand  of  love 

I  would  my  all  resign  ; 
Through  sorrow  or  through  joy, 

Conduct  me  as  thine  own, 
And  help  me  still  to  say — 

My  L,ord,  thy  will  be  done. 

My  Jesus,  as  thou  wilt ! 

All  vShall  be  well  for  me  ; 
Each  changing  future  scene 

I  gladly  trust  with  thee  ; 
Straight  to  my  home  above 

I  travel  calmly  on, 
And  sing,  in  life  or  death, — 

My  Lord,  thy  will  be  done. 

Schmolke. 

He  comes  and  lays  my  heart,  all  heated, 

On  the  bare  anvil,  minded  so 
Into  his  own  fair  shape  to  beat  it, 

With  his  great  hammer,  blow  on  blow  ; 
And  yet  I  whisper,  "  As  God  will  !  " 
And  at  his  heaviest  blows  hold  still. 


j  28  POETICAL  SELECTIONS* 


TRUST   IN   TRIAL. 

I  worship  thee,  sweet  will  of  God  1 

And  all  thy  ways  adore, 
And  every  day  I  live  I  seem 

To  love  thee  more  and  more. 

I  love  to  kiss  each  print  where  thou 

Hast  set  thine  unseen  feet  ; 
I  cannot  fear  thee,  blessed  will  ! 

Thine  empire  is  so  sweet. 

When  obstacles  and  trials  seem 

Like  prison  walls  to  be, 
I  do  the  little  I  can  do, 

And  leave  the  rest  to  thee. 

F.  IV.  Faber. 


PEACE   IN  TRIAL. 

These  surface  troubles  come  and  go, 

Like  rufflings  of  the  sea  ; 
The  deeper  depth  is  out  of  reach 

To  all,  my  God,  but  thee. 

F.  W.  Fader. 


COMFORT  IN  TRIAL. 

Christ  leads  me  through  no  darker  rooms 

Than  he  went  through  before  ; 
He  that  into  God's  kingdom  comes 

Must  enter  by  this  door. 

Richard  Baxter. 


POETICAL  SELECTIONS.  129 


GRATITUDE   IN  TRIAL. 

I  praise  thee  while  1113-  days  go  on  ; 

I  love  thee  while  my  days  go  on  ; 
Through  dark  and  dearth,  through  fire  and  frost, 
With  emptied  arms  and  treasure  lost, 

I  thank  thee  while  my  days  go  on. 

Mrs.  Browning. 


TEARS. 


To  forge  a  sun,  to  rivet  myriad  stars, 

Through  serried  veins  to  pour  earth's  flashing  rills, 
To  kennel  hungry  seas  in  granite  bars, 

To  whet  the  lightnings  on  the  rock-browed  hills — 
Majestic  wonders  !  But  sweet  to  be  kept, 
And,  crowning  wonder  of  them  all,  God  wept. 

Lo  !  our  humanity  has  touched  God's  crown 

As  some  frail  leaf  might  touch  the  bending  spheres  ; 

And  from  the  heights  of  Godship  he  stooped  down 
To  bathe  his  forehead  in  the  brine  of  tears. 

He  lived  and  talked  with  men  ;  he  toiled  and  slept, 

But  struck  our  human  key-note  wrhen  he  wept. 

Weep,  burdened  soul !  Let  fall  thy  tears  like  rain  ; 

God  counts  the  drops  in  which  thy  slow  years  steep 
He  gathers  them  like  mountain  dew  again, 

Transformed  to  pearls  which  seraphim  shall  keep 
For  thy  soul's  crowning,  when,  by  grief  unswept, 
It  leans  upon  the  breast  of  him  that  wept 

Lillian  Blanche  Fearing. 

Thank  God,  bless  God,  all  ye  who  suffer  not 
More  grief  than  ye  can  weep  for. 
9 


130  POETICAL  SELECTIONS. 

Thank  God  for  grace, 
Ye  who  weep  only  !     If,  as  some  have  done, 
Ye  grope,  tear-blinded,  in  a  desert  place, 
And  touch  but  tombs, — look  up  !     Those  tears  will  run 

Soon  in  long  rivers  down  the  lifted  face, 
And  leave  the  vision  clear  for  stars  and  sun. 

Mrs.  Browning. 

OF  WELLINGTON. 
O,  iron  nerve  to  true  occasion  true  ! 

O  fall'n  at  length,  that  tower  of  strength, 
Which  stood  four-square  to  all  the  winds  that  blew. 

Te?i?iyson. 


OF  COWPKR. 
O  man  !    this  man  in  brotherhood  your  weary  paths  be- 
guiling. 
Groaned  inly  while  he  taught  you  peace,  and  died  while 
ye  were  smiling. 

Mrs.  Browning. 


TRANSIENT  AND  PERMANENT. 
Our  little  systems  have  their  day  ; 
They  have  their  day  and  cease  to  be  ; 
They  are  but  broken  lights  of  thee, 
And  thou,  O  Lord,  art  more  than  they. 

Tennyson. 

Truth  is  large.     Our  aspiration 

Scarce  embraces  half  we  be. 
Shame  !  to  stand  in  his  creation 

And  doubt  Truth's  sufficiency  ! 
To  think  God's  song  unexcelling, 
The  poor  tales  of  our  own  telling. 

Mrs.  Browning. 


POETICAL  SELECTIONS.  131 

OF  A  CHILD. 

The  still  affection  of  the  heart 
Became  an  outward  breathing  type, 
That  into  stillness  passed  again, 
And  left  a  want  unknown  before. 

Tennyson. 

We  could  not  wish  her  whiter— her 
Who  perfumed  with  pure  blossom 

The  house  !— a  lovely  thing  to  wear 
Upon  a  mother's  bosom. 

Mrs.  Browyiing. 

The  baby  wrept  ; 
The  mother  took  it  from  the  nurse's  arms, 
And  hushed  its  fears  and  soothed  its  vain  alarms  ; 

And  baby  slept. 

Again  it  weeps ; 
And  God  doth  take  it  from  the  mother's  arms, 
From  present  griefs  and  future  unknown  harms, 

And  baby  sleeps. 


ASLEEP. 
Of  all  the  thoughts  of  God  that  are 
Borne  inward  unto  souls  afar, 

Along  the  Psalmist's  music  deep, 
Now  tell  me  if  that  any  is 
For  gift  or  grace  surpassing  this — 

He  giveth  his  beloved  sleep. 

And  friends,  dear  friends,  when  it  shall  be 
That  this  low  breath  is  gone  from  me, 

And  round  my  bier  ye  come  to  weep  ; 
Let  one,  most  loving  of  you  all 
Say,  "Not  a  tear  must  o'er  her  fall — 

He  giveth  his  beloved  sleep." 


132  POETICAL  SELECTIONS. 

I      Asleep  in  Jesus  !   blessed  sleep  ! 

From  which  none  ever  wakes  to  weep  ; 
A  calm  and  undisturbed  repose, 
Unbroken  by  the  last  of  foes. 

Asleep  in  Jesus  !  peaceful  rest  ! 
Whose  waking  is  supremely  blest  ; 
No  fear,  no  woe,  shall  dim  that  hour 
That  manifests  the  Saviour's  power. 

Asleep  in  Jesus  !   Oh,  for  me 

Ma}'  such  a  blissful  refuge  be  ; 

Securely  shall  my  ashes  lie 

And  wait  the  summons  from  on  high. 

Mrs.  Mackay. 


HYMNS   OF  TRUST. 

Abide  with  me  !     Fast  falls  the  eventide  ; 
The  darkness  deepens  ;  Lord  !  with  me  abide  ; 
When  other  helpers  fail  and  comforts  flee, 
Help  of  the  helpless  !  oh,  abide  with  me  ! 

Swift  to  its  close  ebbs  out  life's  little  day ; 
Earth's  joys  grow  dim  ;  its  glories  pass  awa}T  ; 
Change  and  decay  in  all  around  I  see  ; 

0  thou  who  changest  not  !  abide  with  me. 

1  need  thy  presence  even-  passing  hour  ; 

What  but  \ky  grace  can  foil  the  tempter's  power  ? 
Who  like  thyself  my  guide  and  stay  can  be  ? 
Through  cloud  and  sunshine,  oh,  abide  with  me  ! 

I  fear  no  foe,  with  thee  at  hand  to  bless  ; 
Ills  have  no  weight,  and  tears  no  bitterness  ; 
Where  is  death's  sting?  where,  grave,  thy  victory? 
I  triumph  still,  if  thou  abide  with  me. 


POETICAL   SELECTIONS.  133 

Hold  thou  thy  cross  before  1113-  closing  eyes, 
Shine  through  the  gloom  and  point  me  to  the  skies  ; 
Heaven's  morning  breaks  and  earth's  vain  shadows  flee; 
In  life,  in  death,  O  Lord  !  abide  with  me. 

Lyte. 
Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul  ! 

Let  me  to  thy  bosom  fly 
While  the  billows  near  me  roll, 

While  the  tempest  still  is  high  ; 
Hide  me,  O  \\\y  Saviour,  hide, 
Till  the  storm  of  life  is  past  ; 
Safe  into  the  haven  guide, 
Oh,  receive  my  soul  at  last. 

Other  refuge  have  I  none  ; 

Hangs  my  helpless  soul  on  thee  ; 
Leave,  ah  !  leave  me  not  alone, 

Still  support  and  comfort  me  ; 
All  my  trust  on  thee  is  stayed, 

All  my  help  from  thee  I  bring  ; 
Cover  my  defenceless  head 

With  the  shadow  of  thy  wing. 

Chas.  Wesley. 

Lead,  kindly  light !  amid  the  encircling  gloom, 

Lead  thou  me  on  ; 
The  night  is  dark,  and  I  am  far  from  home  ; 

Lead  thou  me  on  ; 
Keep  thou  my  feet  ;  I  do  not  ask  to  see 
The  distant  scene  ;  one  step  enough  for  me. 

I  was  not  ever  thus,  nor  prayed  that  thou 

Shouldst  lead  me  on  ; 
I  loved  to  choose  and  see  my  path  ;  but  now 

Lead  thou  me  on  ; 
I  loved  the  garish  day,  and,  spite  of  fears, 
Pride  ruled  my  will.     Remember  not  past  years. 


134  POETICAL   SELECTIONS. 

So  long  thy  power  has  blest  me,  sure  it  still 

Will  lead  me  on 
O'er  moor  and  fen,  o'er  crag  and  torrent,  till 

The  night  is  gone, 
And  with  the  morn  those  angel  faces  smile 
Which  I  have  loved  long  since,  and  lost  awhile  ! 

/.  H.  Newman. 


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